TEMPLE BAR is now without question the most vibrant and energetic area of Dublin. The sheer concentration of restaurants, pubs, hotels, nightclubs and music venues in the area has made it a Mecca for those seeking cutting edge night-time entertainment. But Dublin's bustling cultural quarter is about much more than eating, drinking and clubbing. The area is a veritable cornucopia of unusual retail outlets, art galleries and purpose made public spaces. It's also a thriving centre of the arts and culture among the arts institutions located in Temple Bar are the Irish Film Centre, The Ark (a cultural centre for children), Arthouse Multi-Media Centre, The Gallery of Photography, National Photo Archive, Gaiety School of Acting, The Music Centre, Sound Training Centre, and DESIGNyard. There is also an ongoing programme of free public artistic events and exhibitions.
One of the longer established inhabitants of the area, The Project Arts Centre is currently undergoing a #3 million revamp, which will see it extend its facilities to include a 250-seat theatre/venue, a bar and gallery space.
"We're now very much at the post development stage," says Sheila Byrne of Temple Bar Properties. "Most of the work in transforming the area into what it has become has been completed and the issues we're concentrating on now are about long term sustainability of the area. People are putting their heads together to see how the area's character can be maintained and improved."
Temple Bar Properties is the government-established company set up to oversee the development of the area and the creation of Dublin's Cultural Quarter. The past five years of development have been directed by a flexible Architectural Framework Plan first devised in 1991. Apart from the area west of Parliament Street which is currently being developed, Temple Bar is complete.
But it hasn't always been plain sailing for those working to create the unique environment and atmosphere which exists in the area and more recently Temple Bar has had to overcome an image problem. The area was becoming notorious as a stomping ground for unruly stag/hen parties, mainly flying in from the North of England for wild weekends of mayhem and excess. In a report commissioned by Temple Bar Properties, it was revealed that while stag/hen tourism represented only 1% of total tourism to Dublin, it had a turn off factor of 13%, with a potential loss of #57 million to the city annually. Temple Bar licence holders responded swiftly and dramatically to this report by announcing that they would no longer cater for stag/hen business in Temple Bar.
"From our point of view it was an important turning point," Sheila Byrne says. "It was pleasing to us that publicans were taking a long term view of the problem. There was a concern that the drinking side of the area was overshadowing the other more positive aspects. It was beginning to get intimidating and there was a high percentage of public awareness of that fact. There's no question that the area has settled down and it's much quieter on that front."
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Temple Bar covers just 28 acres of land bounded by the south quays of the Liffey, Dame Street, Fishamble Street and Westmoreland Street. Temple Bar is Dublin's oldest city precinct. Its evolution through the centuries has made it one of the most archaeologically, architecturally and historically rich areas of Dublin.
But it might have been otherwise. CIE had planned to build a large bus station in Temple Bar, which had become very run down in the 1960's. To this end, they bought large amounts of property in the quarter. Ironically it was this period of stagnation which ultimately led to the area's present revival.
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National Photographic Archive
The National Photographic Archive has been established to house the national collection of photographs, previously held in the National Library of Ireland. The Archive is located in Temple Bar's Meeting House Square in a purpose-built space dedicated entirely to the care and preservation of Ireland's photographic heritage. The building includes darkrooms and a conservation area as well as substantial storage space controlled by an air plant system. The provision of a reading room, large exhibition areas on two floors, as well as a small retail space combine to meet the physical requirements for access to the collections.
The collections in the Archive comprise approximately 300,000 photographs, the vast majority of which are Irish. "Our primary objective is to preserve these photographs and make them available to the public," says Collete O'Flaherty. We are also digitising a number of the collections to make access easier."
While most of the collections are historical there are some contemporary ones. Subject matter ranges from topographical views to studio portraits and from political events to early tourist photographs. The Archive maintains an active collecting policy. Additional material is constantly added to the Archive, quite often by way of generous donations from various sources.
A guide to the collections in the National Photographic Archive - entitled Into The Light: An Illustrated Guide To The Photographic Collections In The National Library Of Ireland and written by Sarah Rouse was published by the National Library of Ireland in 1998.
Into The Light provides a guide to nearly 90 collections and includes a selection of images from many of the collections described.
Temple Bar Music Centre
The Temple Bar Music Centre, established three years ago, has been one of the outstanding success stories of the area. Live concerts of all musical genres are programmed throughout the year in the TV studio/venue including: rock, pop, dance, world music, jazz, blues, country & western, classical/opera, reggae, choral, cabaret and novelty acts.
"We've had nearly every Irish artist of note playing here," says the Music Centre's Paddy Dunning. "We've also had about 50 TV shows and over 35 radio shows broadcast.
"Apart from that it's a constant hive of activity. It's being used by musicians, engineers, roadies, managers. We have over 60 bands using the rehearsal facilities every week and over the last six months we've been inundated by record companies with a view to sourcing new talent. The Hot Press/IMRO Homefront gigs have been a huge success, the 2FM Jacob's Song Contest is being broadcast from here on 26th February and the Bacardi/Hot Press Unplugged final has also been held here."
Also housed within the Music Centre is the renowned Sound Training Centre where studio engineers and producers are trained to the highest industry standard
"We've had a high level of job placement," say Dunning. We've people working with RTE, BBC, Channel 4, and with bands such as U2."
"There would be over 100 people working and training in the music centre on any one day, he adds. "We're constantly re-investing and updating our equipment. We've automated our new desk, improved the PA and lighting. We're now looking at it as a centre of excellence for the entire music industry."
Danger Doyles
One of the dilemmas facing anyone planning a night out in Temple Bar is precisely where to go. Such is the variety of pubs and clubs on offer that making a choice is never easy. Danger Doyles at Eustace Street could go some way towards solving the problem. Established over four years ago as part of the River House Hotel complex, it's a busy pub with a late bar from Wednesday to Sunday and with food served from midday 'till eight. And for those who want to go clubbing to round off a night on the town, Klub Zazu located downstairs at Danger Doyles features the best in dance music from the 70s, 80s and 90s.
Mosko
Shopping in Temple Bar is never a dull or boring experience and there are few places in Ireland (or anywhere else for that matter) where you can experience such a variety of eclectic and interesting shops selling all manner of items not found in mainstream shopping areas.
Mosko in Fownes Street behind the Central Bank is one such outlet. A brand new gift shop opened in December it offers an exciting new range of "cheap 'n' cheerful" gifts from around #5 upwards aimed at young and trendy shoppers. With everything from candlesticks and frames to lighters, you're sure to find something at Mosko to please even the most outlandish tastes.
Taboo
Right next door to Mosko and under the same ownership, Taboo specialises in silver jewellery items as well as fashionable leather bags: Rings, necklaces, pendants, bracelets and a staggering range of watches (over 500!)
Taboo has just taken delivery of the new collection of the highly desirable Storm watches and are also incidentally one of the few outlets where you can purchase those "furry animal" novelty backpacks, including Sean The Sheep, Wallace & Grommit, and the Muppets, (Fozzie Bear etc).
Connolly Books
Also colloquially known as the Communist Bookshop Connolly Books is one of the oldest and most popular landmarks in the Temple Bar area. They stock a comprehensive selection of Irish historical and political publications, probably the largest available collection of the works of James Connolly and numerous seminal works by Marx, Engels, Lenin, Castro and Che. You'll also find lots to stimulate the thought processes on matters relating to the environment, women's issues and the developing world. An absolute must for fans of radical, political and historical works Connolly Books is the place to be! n