Temple Bar has become synonymous with urban regeneration, restoration and cultural growth.   Short-term low rents in semi-vacant buildings encouraged a bohemian flowering of artists, musicians, craft-workers and galleries.  The place began to hum with a new activity and representations to government convinced the then Taoiseach (Prime Minister), Charles J Haughey, to designate the area for special protection and development. 

Since 1991, not only has it become the cultural and entertainment quarter of the city (currently with 11 hotels and hostels. 14 music venues, 21 bars and 74 eating places!), but an influx of small businesses and apartments have increased the resident population from an original 200 to more than 1000 today.  In the evenings the whole place fairly throbs with activity and the principle streets are teeming with mostly young revelers.  Temple Bar covers 28 acres (11.3 hectares) and is bounded by Dame Street, Fishamble Street, the South Quays of the River Liffey and Westmorland Street.  The area West of Parliament Street, although part of Temple Bar, is not included in this walk, as it has been attached to the Viking and Medieval Dublin walk.

The history of Temple Bar is the history of Dublin itself.  The Viking longphort (stockaded harbour) which grew into the town of Dyfflin was established near the western end of present-day Temple Bar.  Dyfflin consolidated into the walled building of Trinity College and a handful of residences, a street system and quayside walls did not come to Temple Bar until the 17th Century.  The quays were constantly jammed with brigs, barques and barquentines and day and night the cobbled streets rang to the cacophony of commerce and craftsmen, iron-shod hooves and wheels and to the raucousness of the taverns and coffee houses.  The perennial problem of a tidal river and the advent of deeper draught vessels forced the removal of shipping further downriver in the late 18th century.  Warehousing and merchandising became the main activities until they too disappeared to the suburbs in the 1960s.

Start and Finish: Temple Bar Hotel, Fleet Street (Sráid na Toinne = Street of Waves).  Buses: all city centre services.
DART Station: Tara Street
Multi-storey Car Park off Fleet Street
Length: 2 miles (3.2 kilometres)
Time: 1 ¼ Hours
Refreshments: As the summary shows, you certainly won't be short of a place of nourishment on this walk.
Pathway Status: Street Footpaths
Best Time to Visit: Any Time. Business hours give one flavor (and entry to certain places), quieter Sundays impart a more reflective atmosphere and evenings bring its own joie de vivre.
Route Notes: The Stock Exchange and the House of Lords are only open during business hours.  Meeting House Square may be shut in the evenings.
Connecting Walk: South City Centre precedes this walk and it leads into Viking and Medieval Dublin.

Adapted from Walking Dublin By Pat Liddy 1998.

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The above information was valid to the best knowledge available to the compiler but responsibility cannot be accepted for any unintentional inaccuracies or out of date data.