The History of Temple Bar in Dublin

Looking for a Dublin vacation package? You’ll definitely be hearing about the Temple Bar in Dublin. While it’s a bar itself (Temple Bar), the term Temple Bar usually refers to a whole area of the city of Dublin. In fact, it’s the place for the hottest bars, trendy nightspots and artist creations. Temple Bar in Dublin also has an interesting history.

First, Temple Bar in Dublin is on the south bank of the Liffey River, or what’s considered central Dublin. It’s believed that the Temple family is responsible for the name. Sir William Temple was the provost of Trinity College and had his house and gardens at the area now called Temple Bar in Dublin.

In 1707 a customs house, where all the government paperwork for import and export were processed, settled at Temple Bar in Dublin. With the customs house came warehouses, taverns and brothels. The area boomed with activity. By 1791, however, when the customs house moved to bigger facilities on the north side of the Liffey river, Temple Bar in Dublin fell into an immediate decline.

Temple Bar in Dublin slowly declined over the years. As the history of Dublin goes, by the 1960s, developers had demolished quite a bit of the old structures in the city. Temple Bar in Dublin, thanks to its sorry state of disrepair, was left alone. Over the years, it had become a center city slum, making it untouchable by modern standards.

By the 1980’s, the bus company Coras Iompair Eireann was all set to develop a large bus depot in Temple Bar in Dublin. While the bus station was planned, buildings were let out at low rents, making them a prime location for shop owners, small stores, artist studios and other art based businesses. Temple Bar in Dublin was truly born.

It turns out protests kept the bus depot from ever being built in the Temple Bar in Dublin. However, you’ll often hear remarks along the lines of the charming area could have been nothing but a giant bus station. Now, as you tour Dublin, Ireland, you’ll know the history of the comments.

Today, you’ll find Temple Bar in Dublin thriving. During the day, there are street fairs and shops to browse through. At night, enjoy yourself at one of the touristy pubs. You’ll appreciate the trendy bars and art studios. The cobble streets and original architecture still remain as well. Who would have thought that an inner city slum could save the architectural history of a city? It did for Temple Bar in Dublin.