Page 94 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland

92  DUBLIN AREA B Y AREA

Façade of the Custom House reflected in the Liffey
1 Custom House Ireland’s main rivers and Sean O’Casey. Many were
the Atlantic Ocean. Topping controversial: nationalist sensi­
Custom House Quay. Map E2
Tel 888 2000. Closed to the central copper dome tivities were severely tested in
the public. is a statue of Commerce, 1926 during the premiere of
while the north façade O’Casey’s The Plough and the
This majestic is decorated with figures Stars when the flag of the Irish
building was representing Europe, Free State appeared on stage in
designed as the Africa, America and Asia. a scene which featured a pub
Custom House The best view of the frequented by prostitutes.
by the English building is from Today, the Abbey is supported
architect James the south of the by the Arts Council of Ireland/
Gandon. How­ Sculpture symbolizing Liffey beyond Matt An Chomhairle Ealaíon and its
ever, just nine Ireland’s rivers, by Talbot Bridge. function is to nurture new Irish
years after its Edward Smyth writing and artistic talent and
completion, the produce an annual programme
1800 Act of Union (see p46) 2 Abbey Theatre of diverse, engaging, innovative
transferred the customs and 26 Lower Abbey St. Map E2. Tel 878 Irish and international theatre.
excise business to London, 7222. Open for performances only. Productions have included
rendering the building Box office: Open 10:30am–7pm Mon– work by Wilde, Beckett, Shakes­
practically obsolete. In 1921, Sat. See also Entertainment in Dublin peare and Brecht, as well as plays
supporters of Sinn Féin cele­ p112. ∑ abbeytheatre.ie by Marina Carr, Tom Mac Intyre,
brated their election victory Billy Roche and Sam Shepard.
by setting light to what they The Abbey staged its first play
saw as a symbol of British in 1904 with W B Yeats and
imperialism. The fire blazed for Lady Gregory as co­directors. The 3 O’Connell Street
five days causing extensive early years of this much­lauded Map D1–D2.
damage. Reconstruction took national theatre witnessed works
place in 1926, although by W B Yeats, J M Synge and O’Connell Street is very different
further deterioration meant from the original plans of Irish
that the building was not aristocrat Luke Gardiner. When
completely restored until he bought the land in the
1991, when it re opened as mid­18th century, Gardiner
government offices. envi sioned a grand residential
The main façade is made up parade with an elegant mall
of pavilions at each end with a running along its centre. Such
Doric portico in its centre. The plans were short­lived. The
arms of Ireland crown the two con struction of Carlisle (now
pavilions and a series of 14 O’Connell) Bridge around 1790
allegorical heads, by Dublin transformed the street into the
sculptor Edward Smyth, form city’s main north–south route.
the keystones of arches and Also, several buildings were
entrances. These heads depict Logo of the Abbey Theatre destroyed during the 1916 Easter
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp296–7 and pp308–11

092-093_EW_Ireland.indd 92 08/03/17 11:05 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2)
Date 14th November 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm