ABOUT TEMPLE BAR
Temple Bar is a vibrant cosmopolitan cultural quarter with a lively entertainment scene.
The area is recognised as Ireland's arts and cultural hotspot, renowned for it's eclectic mix of pubs, clubs, art galleries, theatres, cinemas, hotels, music venues, quirky shops and an amazing selection of restaurants and eateries, guaranteeing that there is something to suit every taste and budget!
Temple Bar is characterised by its narrow cobbled streets with a mixture of modern and classical architecture. There are many pedestrian streets and squares with weekend markets and plenty of free cultural events all through the year.
Browse our website and get a taste of what's on offer.
About Temple Bar
Temple Bar is Dublin’s ‘old city’ and one of the most vibrant areas in the city centre. It is situated in the very heart of Dublin city surrounded by the south quays of the River Liffey, Dame Street, Fishamble Street and Westmoreland Street. Temple Bar is well known for its bohemian atmosphere and cobbled streets. It has a charm and uniqueness no longer found in many other parts of the city. When in Dublin a trip to Temple Bar is a must!
The term ‘Temple Bar’ first appeared in 1673, and refers to the site where the Anglo-Irish aristocrat Sir William Temple had his residence and gardens. Various settlements in the area go back thousands of years, as far as the Bronze Age, around 1,000 BC. However it wasn’t until the Vikings landed in the year 795 that Temple Bar became the heart of Dublin.
Soon Temple Bar became Dublin’s centre of economic and cultural activity. In 1707 the Customs House was built on Wellington Quay (a site now occupied by the Clarence Hotel). All goods shipped into Ireland went through the Customs House. As a result warehouses sprung up throughout the area alongside various forms of entertainment ranging from theatres to saloons and brothels.
In 1791, the Customs House moved downstream to the north quays. Temple Bar was no longer the hub of Irish commerce. Gradually the whole area began to decline as businesses and shoppers moved elsewhere. Temple Bar became a no-go area in the city and few people wanted to go there.
In the 1980’s C.I.E (the state transport company) started to buy up property with the intention of building a bus depot in Temple Bar. While waiting for construction to begin CIE started renting out run-down sites cheaply. This attracted painters, sculptors, actors and musicians into the area. A new version of Temple Bar began to grow breathing new life into the area. Soon Temple Bar became known as the city’s alternative strip, with boutiques, record shops, cafes, bars, artists and musicians moving into the area.
Temple Bar was now an exciting and colourful part of Dublin life and more significant to the city than just a place to refuel buses. Residents and artists organised themselves into a lobbying group and fought hard to convince politicians and city planners that their version of Temple Bar was worth preserving. Through pressure, the plan to turn Temple Bar into a central bus depot was defeated.
As a result the Irish government created a company called Temple Bar Properties to oversee the re-development of Temple Bar. Temple Bar is now an energetic living community in which residents, artists, visitors, cultural organisations and businesses co-exist. And the rest as they say is history!