Grafton Street and the Georgian Quarter
Grafton Street. This area is part of the Georgian Quarter, but has become a district in its own right due to its lively shopping and nightlife. Grafton Street owes its name to the Duke of Grafton, who owned land here. Since the 1980s, much of this area has been pedestrianized, except between Nassau Street and College Green. Nicknamed "Beyond Dame Street", "Around Aungier Street", or "Grafton Street's side", Grafton Street is trendy by day and night, attracting chic & expensive shoppers to the St. Stephen's Green Park side of the street, while a more popular, Temple Bar-like atmosphere prevails towards Dame Street. It's also the stronghold of Dublin's gay and lesbian population. Grafton Street is the scene that has brought out great street performers, such as singers Glen Hansard (actor in the film Once, a scene of which takes place here), Damien Rice and Paddy Casey. Every day, talented musicians, jugglers and puppeteers perform here.
Georgian Quarter. Georgian Dublin was designed by Luc Gardener, after whom Georgian Gardener Street is named. This district is located to the east of trendy Dublin and Grafton Street, and on the city's south bank (as far as the Grand Canal). Dublin's Georgian architecture dates back to the 1700s, with construction continuing into the 1830s. The Georgian period refers to the reigns of George I, George II, George III and George IV of England, when Ireland was ruled by Great Britain. In the 18thcentury , high society attached great importance to architecture and decoration. By the end of the century, Dublin was considered one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. The opulence of the south bank contrasted with the north of the Liffey, home to a working-class, Catholic Irish population that had been ostracised by the English occupiers. After Irish independence in 1922, the Georgian quarter was seen by the young republic as a sad symbol of British domination. It wasn't until the 1990s that the local council launched a campaign to preserve this heritage. The high, terraced houses, built four storeys above the basement, and their red-brick facades characterize this architecture. Famous Irish writers have lived in Georgian Dublin, including W.B. Yeats, Sean O'Casey and Lord Belvedere. This is also where you'll find luxury hotels.
North shore
The north of the Liffey was the scene of independence uprisings against the English yoke. Statues of independence leaders stand on O'Connell Street, while the General Post Office and Custom House are an integral part of the capital's turbulent history. It wasn't until the end of the 17thcentury that the North Shore began to flourish. Commonly referred to as the "working-class district", its history is associated with ambitious men who revolutionized Dublin's daily life, such as Sir Humphrey Jervis, who began to develop the North Bank at the end of the 17thcentury ; Bartholomew Mosse, who created the famous Rotunda Hospital and Parnell Square; and James Gandon, founder of the Custom House and the Four Courts, two magnificent buildings. Behind its apparent modernity, Dublin's imposing O'Connell Street, formerly known as Sackville Street, was renamed in the early 20th century after the birth of the Irish Free State, in honour of Daniel O'Connell (1775-1847), known as "the Liberator". His statue, by sculptor John Henry Foley, stands at one end of the street, while that of Charles Stewart Parnell is at the other. Come here for a Guinness in authentic Irish surroundings, or to enjoy a session of traditional music.
Temple Bar and Liberties
Temple Bar. Welcome to Dublin's tourist district par excellence! Temple Bar owes its name to the Temple family, who settled here in the 17th century, and in particular to William Temple (1628-1699), Rector of Trinity College. It's a district that has undergone enormous transformation; once a neglected area, Temple Bar has become a flagship district of the capital, as well as a "cultural and commercial center", home to art cinemas, art galleries, second-hand stores, record shops and, above all, numerous restaurants, cafés, bars and pubs. Temple Bar has an undeniable charm - despite the hordes of tourists who invade it - and remains a friendly place, with its cobbled, pedestrian streets and its famous buskers, the street artists who brighten up the area even more. After dark, the district comes alive like nowhere else, whatever the day of the week.
Liberties and medieval Dublin. This is where you'll find the city's oldest monuments. It was here that the Gaels built their camp, and later, the Vikings established their port and built their fortress. It wasn't until Norman times that the town began to expand. An industrial and popular district, the Liberties enjoyed a special status for a long time, benefiting from tax exemption, which encouraged growth and accentuated economic dynamism. At the time of Louis XIV's revocation of the Edict of Nantes, almost 10,000 Huguenots settled here, establishing a flourishing textile industry. The inhabitants of the Liberties remain extremely attached to their origins, claiming the authenticity of their district and its popular aspect, which is resisting the accelerated gentrification of Dublin's other districts. With landmarks such as Dublin Castle, Christchurch Cathedral, Guinness Storehouse, St. Patrick's Cathedral, St. Nicholas of Myra on Francis Street, Marsh's Library on St. Patrick's Close and St. Audoen's on High Street, the Liberties district is a must-see for any curious traveler. Its name comes from the real "liberties": at the time, outside the castle and the walls of Dublin, the district was free from the laws of the city.
