Page 84 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland

82  DUBLIN AREA B Y AREA

the 1960s turned it into a premises to young artists and
centre of specialist galleries, to record, clothing and book
antique shops, jewellery stalls, shops. The area developed an
cafés and other shop units. The “alternative” identity, and when
enclosed central courtyard, the development plans were
topped by a glass dome, is a scrapped the artists and retailers
popular meeting place with stayed on. Described by some
Dubliners. The centre can also cynics as the city’s “officially
be reached from Grafton Street designated arts zone”, Temple
down the Johnson Court alley. Bar today is is an odd mix of
excellent galleries and theatres
alongside kitsch tourist pubs,
5 Temple Bar souvenir shops, fast­food
restaurants and nightclubs
Map C3. Temple Bar Information
Tel 677 2255. See also Entertainment in popular with visiting stag and
Dublin p118. Project Arts Centre: hen parties.
39 East Essex Street. Tel 881 9613. Highlights include the Project
Irish Film Institute: 6 Eustace Street. Arts Centre, a highly respected
Central courtyard of Powerscourt Tel 679 5744. _ Diversions, (May– venue for avant­garde perform­
Townhouse Shopping Centre Sep). ∑ templebar.ie ance art; and the Irish Film
Institute, which shows art­
4 Powerscourt These narrow, cobbled streets house and inde pen dent films,
Centre running between the Bank of and has a popular restaurant/
Ireland (see p64) and Christ bar and shop.
South William St. Map D4. Tel 679 Church Cathedral are now home Nearby Meeting House Square,
4144. Open 10am–6pm Mon–Fri (8pm to some of the city’s best galleries with its retractable canopy, hosts
Thu), 9am–6pm Sat, noon–6pm Sun. and arts spaces, as well as the a diverse programme of outdoor
See also Shopping in Ireland pp332–3.
∑ powerscourtcentre.ie most raucous night spots. In the concerts, film screenings and
18th century the area was home theatre performances. The
Completed in 1774 by Robert to many insalubrious characters – National Photographic Archive
Mack, this grand mansion was Fownes Street was noted for its and Gallery of Photography are
built as the city home of brothels. It was also the birthplace also on the square and there is an
Viscount Powerscourt, who of parliamentarian Henry Grattan excellent organic food market
also had a country estate at (see p44). Skilled craftsmen and here on Saturdays, where you can
Enniskerry (see pp138–9). artisans, such as clockmakers sample oysters, salmon, cheese
Granite from the Powerscourt and printers, lived and worked and other local produce.
estate was used in its construc­ around Temple Bar until post­
tion. Today the building houses war industrialization led to a
one of Dublin’s best shopping decline in the area’s fortunes.
centres. Inside it still features In the 1970s, the CIE (the
the original grand mahogany national transport authority)
staircase, and detailed plaster­ bought up parcels of land in this
work by Michael Stapleton. area to build a major bus depot.
The building became a drap­ Before building, the CIE rented The Temple Bar pub, established in 1840,
ery warehouse in the 1830s, out, on cheap leases, some of located on Temple Bar
and major restoration during the old retail and warehouse
6 Wood Quay
Map B3.
Named after the timber
supports used to reclaim the
land, Wood Quay has undergone
excavations revealing the
remains of one of the earliest
Viking villages in Ireland (see
p83). The excavated area
opened to public view in 2008.
Valuable and informative
Viking artifacts that were
discovered can be seen at the
Dublinia exhibition (see p83)
and at the National Museum
People relaxing in cafés and bars in Temple Bar (see pp70–71).
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp296–7 and pp308–11

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2)
Date 14th November 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm