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The rear of the exterior of the State Apartments buildings has a differing treatment from the upper yard. Much of the exterior is simply stuccoed and has been painted in bright colours by the Office of Public Works and resembles a Lego construction. The remainder has a three storied stone faced classical treatment. It is from this side that the two remaining round towers of the original castle are most visible - the Bermingham Tower and the Records Tower next the Chapel Royal.

A former yard behind the castle - in legend the site of the Black Pool or Dubh Linn from which the city gets its name has been turned into a garden with the new Chester Beatty Library of Oriental Art to one site and the converted stables to the other.