PRESENTATIONS AT THE VICEREGAL COURT, DUBLIN CASTLE
The Drawing-rooms at Dublin Castle are held by the Lord-Lieutenant of
Ireland and his wife, in St. Patrick's Hall, at 10.15 o'clock p.m.
* * * * *
=A Lady who desires= a presentation at the Viceregal Court must be
presented by a lady who has herself been presented thereat, and it is
necessary that she herself should be present on the occasion, save
under exceptional circumstances. A lady is not allowed to present
more than _two_ ladies, except in special cases to be sanctioned by
His Excellency.
* * * * *
=A Lady who proposes being presented= at a Viceregal Drawing-room must
send to the Chamberlain's office by five o'clock, three days previous to
the Drawing-room, a card with her name and address both in town and
country, and the name and address of the lady by whom she is to be
presented distinctly written thereon, and stating which Drawing-room she
wishes to attend, to be submitted to the Lord-Lieutenant and his wife
for their Excellencies' approval. Also two Presentation Cards must be
obtained at the Chamberlain's office two days before the
Drawing-room--if they have not previously been sent by post--and must be
filled in with the necessary particulars, and taken to the Castle on the
evening of the Drawing-room, one to be delivered to the official
stationed in the Corridor, and the other to be handed to the
Chamberlain, who will announce the name. It is requested that the names
may be very distinctly written upon the cards, that there may be no
difficulty in announcing them.
* * * * *
=A Lady attending= a Viceregal Drawing-room, who has been already
presented at the Viceregal Court, must leave at the Chamberlain's
office, three days previous to the Drawing-room, a card with her name
and address, both in town and country, distinctly written thereon, and
stating which Drawing-room she wishes to attend. She must bring with her
two similar cards on the evening of the Drawing-room, one to be given to
the official in the Corridor, and the other to the Chamberlain, who will
announce the name.
A lady on entering the Castle on the evening of a Drawing-room towards
ten o'clock, finds the hall lined with soldiers, and repairs at once to
the cloak-room to leave wraps, etc., and to have her train dexterously
arranged over one arm by a female attendant. She then proceeds up the
grand staircase, lined with servants in gorgeous liveries, and enters
the Corridor, where one of the Presentation Cards is given up to the
official in attendance, and she passes down the Corridor into the Long
Drawing-room, where a barrier of wood, enclosing a space, is erected at
the end. One of the gentlemen of the Household lifts this barrier at
intervals to allow of a certain number passing through to the
Throne-room, at the door of which her train is let down and arranged by
men-servants. If she is to be "presented," the Chamberlain tells her to
take off her right-hand glove, and, if royalty is present, informs her
that she must make three bows, and says, "Three bows, please." She gives
up her second Presentation Card to him, and he calls out her name, and
it is passed along to His Excellency by the gentlemen of the household.
The Lord-Lieutenant and his wife stand on a dais, he standing in front
of the Throne, which is a grand chair of State, and on either side--in
what are known as the "Pens"--are grouped the visitors staying at the
Castle, those who have the private _entree_, and the members of the
Household. The name of the lady who makes the presentation is also
called out. The lady presented advances, the Lord-Lieutenant shakes
hands with her, but does not now kiss her on the cheek; she then makes
him a bow, and bows to his wife, who bows in return. She then retires
back to the door leading into the Long Drawing-room, where her train is
replaced over her arm. She then proceeds to St. Patrick's Hall, or to
the Picture Gallery.
* * * * *
=Ladies who attend= the Drawing-room only bow to the Lord-Lieutenant and
his wife; he bows to them, but he does not shake hands with them or kiss
them. In Ireland men invariably accompany their wives to the
Drawing-room, having previously attended the Levee; they pass along
the base of the semi-circle, and make their bows at the same time as
do the ladies.
When all have been received and have assembled in St. Patrick's Hall,
a procession is formed, the Lord-Lieutenant walking first, followed
by his wife, whose train is carried by pages. The visitors staying at
the Castle follow next, and then the members of the Household, the
band stationed in the gallery playing "God Save the King" the while.
All those present form up in two lines to make a passage for the
procession to pass through, and bow low to His Excellency and his wife
as they pass.
A supper is not given, only light refreshments of every description.
These refreshments are arranged on long tables on one side of St.
Patrick's Hall, and at the lower end, under the gallery, tables are
placed for tea, coffee, wine, etc. On the opposite side of the hall
red-cushioned seats are placed, and the company promenade in and around
the Picture Gallery and St. Patrick's Hall during the remainder of
the evening.
Ladies wear full Court dress as at Buckingham Palace, and gentlemen
uniform or Court dress.
* * * * *
=Levees.=--Every nobleman or gentleman who proposes to attend a Levee,
and who has not yet been received at the Viceregal Court, must be
introduced by a nobleman or gentleman who has himself been previously
presented thereat.
* * * * *
=A Gentleman who proposes= to be presented must send to the Gentleman
Usher's office by five o'clock, two or three days before the Levee, a
card with his name and address, both in town and country, and the name
and address of the gentleman by whom he is to be presented distinctly
written thereon, to be submitted for the Lord-Lieutenant's approval. He
must also obtain two Presentation Cards from the Gentleman Usher's
office, and must take them to the Castle on the day of the Levee, the
one to be given to the official in the Corridor, and the other to be
handed to the Gentleman Usher, who will announce the name to the
Lord-Lieutenant.
Any gentleman who proposes to attend a Levee, having been previously
presented, must also take two cards with him to the Castle on the day of
the Levee, with his name and address, both in town and country, clearly
written thereon, to be given up as before mentioned. Again, a gentleman
who, having previously attended the Levee, proposes attending the
Drawing-room, is requested to bring with him _one_ card, with his name
distinctly written upon it, to be left in the Corridor. All those
entitled to the private _entree_ at Dublin Castle, and availing
themselves of the privilege, are permitted to be accompanied only by
their wives and unmarried daughters.
Gentlemen wear Court dress or naval and military uniforms, or the
uniforms of Lords-Lieutenants of Counties, or of the Royal Irish
Constabulary, etc. The Academical habit cannot be worn except when
presenting an address from a university. Foreign orders and decorations
cannot be worn at the Court of Dublin by British subjects without
special authority under His Majesty's royal licence.
The right-hand glove should be removed before Presentation.
Gentlemen who, having previously attended the Levee, are desirous of
accompanying the ladies of their families to the Drawing-room, are
requested to apply to the Chamberlain's office for an Attendance Card,
which should be brought to the Castle on the evening of the Drawing-room
and given up in the Corridor.
Presentations in London do not count as Presentations at the
Viceregal Court.