Houses of the Oireachtas

The house was originally known as Kildare House after James Fitzgerald, the Earl of Kildare, who commissioned it to be built between 1745-47: James Fitzgerald set out to create the stateliest of Dublin Georgian Mansions to reflect his eminent position in Irish society. It is told that the Earl had said that fashion would follow in whatever direction he led. In succeeding, he caused an unfashionable area of the city to become a desirable one. On becoming the Duke of Leinster in 1776 (Dublin and Kildare are in the province of Leinster) the house was renamed Leinster House.

Had an open day at Leinster house. It's was very good. Did the tour of the dail. Oh and here is one for my friend Stephanie:
The designer of Leinster House was the architect Richard Cassels, who was born in Hesse-Cassel in Germany about 1690.