Temple Bar

Temple Bar is a district in Dublin, Ireland, running between the River Liffey and Dame Street along a network of cobbled lanes. The area contains galleries, theaters, pubs, and small shops scattered along narrow streets that form a dense arrangement of doorways and building fronts.

The district developed from marshland during the 17th century when wealthy English families built residences and formed a settlement along the river. In the 20th century the area shifted from a craft and trade quarter into a center for arts and nightlife.

The area takes its name from a 17th-century estate and still preserves the narrow lanes and old shop fronts that recall its earlier character. On weekends street musicians perform on corners while small craft markets set up between the lanes, drawing both locals and travelers.

Several bus lines stop nearby and the Luas tram on the red line provides connections to adjacent stations, from which visitors can walk into the district in a few minutes. The narrow lanes are easiest to explore during daylight when shops and galleries open and fewer crowds fill the streets.

Fishamble Street hosted the world premiere of Handel's Messiah in 1742, and every year the debut is remembered with a concert. The street itself was once a fish market, a past that still shows in its name.