The Court of Castle Chamber (which was sometimes simply called Star Chamber) was an Irish court of special jurisdiction which operated in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It was established by Queen Elizabeth I in 1571 to deal with cases of riot and offences against public order generally, and all crimes which threatened the security of the Crown. It was explicitly modelled on the English Court of Star Chamber, and it was often referred to as Star Chamber. It took its name from the chamber (which no longer exists) which was specially built for it in Dublin Castle, situated over the main gate.