Making the Most of your Visit to Temple Bar
You don’t want to miss Temple Bar when you are in Dublin. It is probably the most famous pub in the city, an essential element of Dublin’s history. While it is a bar itself, the term Temple Bar usually refers to a whole area in the city of Dublin. It is in fact, the place for the hottest bars, trendy nightspots, and artists creations. Located on the south bank of the Liffey River, Temple Bar attracts thousands of visitors, not only during the Festival but throughout the entire year. Temple Bar is definitely one of the most vibrant places to go during the Saint Patrick’s Day Festival. But, why did this pub become such an important landmark in Dublin?
Temple Bar has a very interesting history that goes back to 1599. It is said that Temple family is responsible for the name. In 1599, Sir William Temple, a renowned teacher and philosopher, entered the service of the Lord Deputy Of Ireland. In 1609 Temple was made Provost of Trinity College, Dublin and Master Chancery in Ireland and moved to this country. Sir William Temple built his house and gardens on newly reclaimed land here on the corner of Temple Lane and the street called Temple Bar.
In 1656, his son, Sir John Temple, acquired additional land and built a new sea wall to hold back the Liffey. He developed the area and it became known as Temple’s Barr because a barr was a raised sandbank used for walking along the water. Soon after warehouses, taverns, theaters and even brothels were built at every corner. However, The Temple Bar’s boom lasted barely a century; the attractiveness of the area began to change drastically.
Temple Bar fell into decadence and became a run-down inner city slum until the mid-20th century. History says that state transport company started buying up property here in the 1980’s with the view to building a huge bus depot. The area, however, rented out the empty premises at cheap rates. Attracted by the bargain rents, artists, fringe boutiques and alternative eateries started to shoot up all over the area. This lead to the area becoming a unique bohemian buzzing quarter. The Irish state got involved in 1991 and set up a non-profit company to oversee the future development of Temple Bar. The Temple Bar itself has 450 bottles of rare and interesting whiskeys gathered for decades from all over the world and is Ireland’s largest collection.
Today, as you tour Dublin, you will find a prosperous and vibrant Temple Bar area. Located on what is considered central Dublin, it’s an easy walk from different points of the city. Street fairs and shops thrive during the day, and many lively pubs are open late into the night. You will also notice the trendy bars, art studios, cobble streets and original architecture that embellish the area. Whether you stop for an Irish drink or to appreciate its exciting history, Temple Bar is definitely a must see in Dublin.
Temple Bar has a very interesting history that goes back to 1599. It is said that Temple family is responsible for the name. In 1599, Sir William Temple, a renowned teacher and philosopher, entered the service of the Lord Deputy Of Ireland. In 1609 Temple was made Provost of Trinity College, Dublin and Master Chancery in Ireland and moved to this country. Sir William Temple built his house and gardens on newly reclaimed land here on the corner of Temple Lane and the street called Temple Bar.
In 1656, his son, Sir John Temple, acquired additional land and built a new sea wall to hold back the Liffey. He developed the area and it became known as Temple’s Barr because a barr was a raised sandbank used for walking along the water. Soon after warehouses, taverns, theaters and even brothels were built at every corner. However, The Temple Bar’s boom lasted barely a century; the attractiveness of the area began to change drastically.
Temple Bar fell into decadence and became a run-down inner city slum until the mid-20th century. History says that state transport company started buying up property here in the 1980’s with the view to building a huge bus depot. The area, however, rented out the empty premises at cheap rates. Attracted by the bargain rents, artists, fringe boutiques and alternative eateries started to shoot up all over the area. This lead to the area becoming a unique bohemian buzzing quarter. The Irish state got involved in 1991 and set up a non-profit company to oversee the future development of Temple Bar. The Temple Bar itself has 450 bottles of rare and interesting whiskeys gathered for decades from all over the world and is Ireland’s largest collection.
Today, as you tour Dublin, you will find a prosperous and vibrant Temple Bar area. Located on what is considered central Dublin, it’s an easy walk from different points of the city. Street fairs and shops thrive during the day, and many lively pubs are open late into the night. You will also notice the trendy bars, art studios, cobble streets and original architecture that embellish the area. Whether you stop for an Irish drink or to appreciate its exciting history, Temple Bar is definitely a must see in Dublin.