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The Great Hall, or Ballroom, became known as St. Patrick's Hall
when George III instituted the 'Illustrious Order of St. Patrick'
in 1783. The central panel, of Valdre's ceiling paintings in St.
Patrick's Hall, depicts the event with King George seated on a dais,
between the symbolic figures of Great Britain with the then British
flag and Ireland with her harp, while Justice and Liberty are in
attendance. The stall plates along the walls chronologically record
the names and the banners show the family crests of the Knights
of St. Patrick. Their insignia, an eight-pointed star, is above
the eastern doorway and one of their ceremonial badges is on view
in a glass case on the north wall.
The 'Illustrious Order of St. Patrick' was the Irish equivalent
of the English 'Order of the Garter' and the Scottish 'Order of
the Thistle'. Knights were required to be 'descended of three descents
of nobleness' on both paternal and maternal sides. Its purpose was
to give social advancement to senior peers and so, further secure
their loyalty. An award of Knighthood was seen as evidence of the
high social standing of the recipient and there was considerable
competition for the limited places.
The lavish investiture ceremony of Knighthood took place in St.
Patrick's Hall. As soldiers lined the route, the new knights in
elaborate garb, walked in ceremonial procession to an installation
ceremony in St. Patrick's Cathedral. A celebratory banquet took
place later in the Castle.
The 'Irish Crown Jewels' was the name by which the Insignia of
the Knights of St. Patrick became known. They consisted of the Grand
Master's diamond badge set in silver with a trefoil in emeralds
on a ruby cross and various other valuable jewels. They were stored
in a bank vault, except when in use. In 1903, they were transferred
to a safe, which was to be placed in the newly constructed strong
room in Bedford Hall. However, the steel safe proved to be too large
for the doorway and Arthur Vicars, the Officer of Arms, agreed to
them being stored in the Library.
It was discovered that they had been stolen only four days before
the State Visit of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. The King
had intended to invest Lord Castletown as a Knight of the Order,
but was furious on account of the theft and cancelled the ceremony.
Although under great pressure, Vicars refused to resign. Rumours
were spread about his sexual orientation, with the objective of
shaming him into leaving. It didn't work, and he refused to appear
at the sworn Viceregal Commission, demanded a public royal inquiry
instead and accused his second in command, Francis Shackleton (brother
of Ernest - the Antarctic Explorer) of the wrongdoing. However Shackleton
was exonerated by the commission, while Vicars was found culpable.
Later Shackleton was jailed for misappropriating a widow's savings.
Arthur Vicars spent his remaining years as a recluse, in a 'big
house' (ascendancy manor) in Co. Kerry. On the 14th April 1921,
in the period between the War of Independence and the Civil War,
an armed IRA contingent brought him out of Kilmorna Castle and shot
him dead, before burning the building.
As Ireland is a Republic, this Order of Knighthood is no longer
in existence. St. Patrick's Hall is now mainly used for State functions,
including inaugurations of Ireland's Presidents. The Office of Arms
is now part of Dublin Castle Conference Centre facilities. The Irish
Crown Jewels have never been located.
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