Grafton Street, Dublin
Encyclopedia
Grafton Street is one of the two principal shopping streets in Dublin city centre, the other being Henry Street
. It runs from St. Stephen's Green
in the south (at the highest point of the street) to College Green
in the north (to the lowest point). In 2008, Grafton Street was the fifth most expensive main shopping street in the world, at €5,621/m².
The street was named after Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton
, the illegitimate son of Charles II of England
who owned land in the area. The street was developed from a then existing country lane by the Dawson family in 1708, after whom the parallel Dawson Street is named.
After O'Connell Bridge
(then called 'Carlisle Bridge') was built to span the River Liffey
, Grafton Street turned from a fashionable residential street into a busy cross-city route.
Since the 1980s, the street has been mostly pedestrianised, with the exception of the short stretch running between Nassau Street and College Green
. This short stretch contains two notable Dublin landmarks, the eighteenth century Trinity College
Provost's House
, home to the head of the college, and the late twentieth century statue of Molly Malone
, which has become a popular Dublin meeting place. A life-size bronze statue of Phil Lynott
was unveiled on Harry Street, off Grafton Street near the Stephen's Green end, on 19 August 2005.
Bewley's Oriental Café
, a Grafton Street institution since its opening in 1927, announced at the end of October 2004 that it would be closing before Christmas, along with its Westmoreland Street
café. Following a campaign by many, including the then Mayor of Dublin, Catherine Byrne
, the café on Grafton Street, which had closed, was reopened, including its small performance area.
Busker
s, including musicians, poets and mime artist
s commonly perform to the shopping crowds. This scene was portrayed in the 2006 film Once
, starring Glen Hansard
of The Frames
, a former Grafton Street busker.
Canadian crooner Michael Bublé
switched on the Christmas lights on Grafton Street in 2011.
Henry Street (Dublin)
Henry Street is located on Dublin's Northside and is one of the two principal shopping streets of Dublin , running from the Spire of Dublin and the General Post Office on O'Connell Street in the east to Liffey Street in the west...
. It runs from St. Stephen's Green
St. Stephen's Green
St Stephen's Green is a city centre public park in Dublin, Ireland. The park is adjacent to one of Dublin's main shopping streets, Grafton Street, and to a shopping centre named for it, while on its surrounding streets are the offices of a number of public bodies and the city terminus of one of...
in the south (at the highest point of the street) to College Green
College Green
College Green is a three-sided "square" in the centre of Dublin. On its northern side is a building known today as the Bank of Ireland which until 1800 was Ireland's Parliament House. To its east stands Trinity College Dublin, the only constituent college of the University of Dublin. To its south...
in the north (to the lowest point). In 2008, Grafton Street was the fifth most expensive main shopping street in the world, at €5,621/m².
History
Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton
Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton KG was the illegitimate son of King Charles II by Barbara Villiers, Countess of Castlemaine....
, the illegitimate son of Charles II of England
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
who owned land in the area. The street was developed from a then existing country lane by the Dawson family in 1708, after whom the parallel Dawson Street is named.
After O'Connell Bridge
O'Connell Bridge
O'Connell Bridge is a road bridge spanning the River Liffey in Dublin, and joining O'Connell Street to D'Olier Street, Westmoreland Street and the south quays.-History:...
(then called 'Carlisle Bridge') was built to span the River Liffey
River Liffey
The Liffey is a river in Ireland, which flows through the centre of Dublin. Its major tributaries include the River Dodder, the River Poddle and the River Camac. The river supplies much of Dublin's water, and a range of recreational opportunities.-Name:The river was previously named An Ruirthech,...
, Grafton Street turned from a fashionable residential street into a busy cross-city route.
Since the 1980s, the street has been mostly pedestrianised, with the exception of the short stretch running between Nassau Street and College Green
College Green
College Green is a three-sided "square" in the centre of Dublin. On its northern side is a building known today as the Bank of Ireland which until 1800 was Ireland's Parliament House. To its east stands Trinity College Dublin, the only constituent college of the University of Dublin. To its south...
. This short stretch contains two notable Dublin landmarks, the eighteenth century Trinity College
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
Provost's House
Provost's House, Trinity College, Dublin
The Provost's House is a 5 bay two storey house with seven bay single storey wings on each side, which dates from the 1759 and was built for Provost Francis Andrews of Trinity College. The designer is unknown...
, home to the head of the college, and the late twentieth century statue of Molly Malone
Molly Malone
"Molly Malone" is a popular song, set in Dublin, Ireland, which has become the unofficial anthem of Dublin City....
, which has become a popular Dublin meeting place. A life-size bronze statue of Phil Lynott
Phil Lynott
Philip Parris "Phil" Lynott was an Irish musician who first came to prominence as a founding member, principal songwriter, and frontman of the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy....
was unveiled on Harry Street, off Grafton Street near the Stephen's Green end, on 19 August 2005.
Bewley's Oriental Café
Bewley's
Bewley's Limited is an Irish company, established in 1840, that produces tea and coffee for sale around the world. The company is owned by Campbell Bewley Group Ltd....
, a Grafton Street institution since its opening in 1927, announced at the end of October 2004 that it would be closing before Christmas, along with its Westmoreland Street
Westmoreland Street
Westmoreland Street is a street in the southern city-centre of Dublin, Ireland. It is one of the two broad avenues - along with D'Olier Street - that converge at their northern ends at O'Connell Bridge over the River Liffey...
café. Following a campaign by many, including the then Mayor of Dublin, Catherine Byrne
Catherine Byrne
Catherine Byrne is an Irish Fine Gael politician. She has been a Teachta Dála for the Dublin South Central constituency since May 2007. She stood unsuccessfully as a candidate at the 2002 general election, she was elected on her next attempt at the 2007 general election...
, the café on Grafton Street, which had closed, was reopened, including its small performance area.
Busker
Busking
Street performance or busking is the practice of performing in public places, for gratuities, which are generally in the form of money and edibles...
s, including musicians, poets and mime artist
Mime artist
A mime artist is someone who uses mime as a theatrical medium or as a performance art, involving miming, or the acting out a story through body motions, without use of speech. In earlier times, in English, such a performer was referred to as a mummer...
s commonly perform to the shopping crowds. This scene was portrayed in the 2006 film Once
Once (film)
Once is a 2006 Irish musical film written and directed by John Carney. Set in Dublin, this naturalistic drama stars musicians Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová as musicians...
, starring Glen Hansard
Glen Hansard
Glen Hansard is the Academy Award–winning principal songwriter and vocalist/guitarist for Irish group The Frames and one half of folk rock duo, The Swell Season...
of The Frames
The Frames
The Frames are an Irish band based in Dublin. Founded in 1990 by Glen Hansard, the band has been influential in the Dublin rock music scene. The group has released six albums...
, a former Grafton Street busker.
Canadian crooner Michael Bublé
Michael Bublé
Michael Steven Bublé is a Canadian singer. He has won several awards, including three Grammy Awards and multiple Juno Awards. His first album reached the top ten in Canada and the UK. He found worldwide commercial success with his 2005 album It's Time, and his 2007 album Call Me Irresponsible was...
switched on the Christmas lights on Grafton Street in 2011.
Notable buskers
- Paddy CaseyPaddy CaseyPatrick "Paddy" Casey is an Irish singer-songwriter from Dublin. Paddy was discovered by Sony A&R Scout Hugh Murray at the International Bar in Dublin, while performing at the singer/songwriter night hosted by Dave Murphy...
- ex-Grafton Street busker, now a successful musician - Mic ChristopherMic ChristopherMic Christopher was an Irish singer-songwriter, best known for his posthumously-released debut album Skylarkin.-Early life:...
- musician - Glen HansardGlen HansardGlen Hansard is the Academy Award–winning principal songwriter and vocalist/guitarist for Irish group The Frames and one half of folk rock duo, The Swell Season...
- ex-Grafton Street busker, Academy Award winner, now fronts The FramesThe FramesThe Frames are an Irish band based in Dublin. Founded in 1990 by Glen Hansard, the band has been influential in the Dublin rock music scene. The group has released six albums...
and The Swell SeasonThe Swell SeasonThe Swell Season is a folk rock duo formed by Irish musician Glen Hansard and Czech singer and pianist Markéta Irglová. "The Swell Season" name is derived from Hansard's favourite novel by Josef Škvorecký from 1975 bearing the same title... - David McSavageDavid McSavageDavid McSavage is an Irish comedy writer and performer. He has performed at national and international comedy festivals such as the Kilkenny Comedy Festival, and appeared on Irish television comedy programmes, including The Savage Eye...
- stand-up comedy and music, now television star - John NeeJohn NeeJohn Nee is an Irish storyteller, actor, musician and playwright who is more commonly known by his stage name Little John Nee.John is also famous for playing the part of Postie in TG4 silent comedy Fear an Phoist.-Biography:...
- imitated Charlie ChaplinCharlie ChaplinSir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I... - Damien RiceDamien RiceDamien Rice is an Irish singer-songwriter, musician and record producer who plays guitar, piano, clarinet and percussion....
- ex-Grafton Street busker, now an internationally-renowned musician - RoadmageRoadmageRoadmage is a street magic act created by magician and entertainer Owen Lean.Since 2002, Roadmage has been a fixture on Dublin's Grafton Street, London's Covent Garden, Granville Island in Vancouver and at club and festival venues...
- comedy magic show - Rodrigo y GabrielaRodrigo y GabrielaRodrigo y Gabriela , also known as "El Rodri y La Gabi", are a Mexican musical duo who specialize in playing fast, rhythmic acoustic guitars...
- Mexican guitar playing duo - The DicemanDiceman (Dublin entertainer)Thom McGinty , known as the Diceman, was an actor, model and street artist specialising in mime.He was born in Glasgow in 1952 and was a member of before he came to Ireland in 1976 to work as a model...
- deceased game store owner and street performer during the 1980s and 1990s
Popular culture
- In the song "Before the WorstBefore the Worst"Before the Worst" is a song by Irish band The Script released as the fifth single from their self-titled debut album The Script. The Script performed "Before The Worst" during half time of the 2009 NRL Grand Final....
" performed by The Script, Grafton Street is mentioned in the lyrics; "It was Grafton Street on a rainy night, I was down on one knee and you were mine for life". - American singer-songwriter Nanci GriffithNanci GriffithNanci Griffith, is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter from Austin, Texas.-Biography:...
wrote and recorded a song called "On Grafton Street". - BagatelleBagatelle (band)Bagatelle are an Irish rock band who first formed in August 1978. They are well known for their popular pop hits such as 'Second Violin' and other traditional Irish songs such as "Summer in Dublin"....
, an Irish rock band in the 1970s refer to Grafton Street in their song "Summer in Dublin"; "And young people walking down Grafton Street, everyone looking so well". - Noel PurcellNoel Purcell (actor)Noel Purcell was an Irish film and television actor.-Career:Purcell began his show business career at the age of 12 in Dublin's Gaiety Theatre. Later, he toured Ireland in a vaudeville act with Jimmy O'Dea....
made the song "Dublin Saunter" well known; it includes the line "Grafton Street's a wonderland, there's magic in the air". - There is a line in the poem "On Raglan RoadOn Raglan Road"On Raglan Road" is a well-known Irish song from a poem written by Irish poet Patrick Kavanagh named after Raglan Road in Ballsbridge, Dublin. In the poem the poet, walking on a "quiet street", recalls a love affair he had with a young woman...
" by poet Patrick KavanaghPatrick KavanaghPatrick Kavanagh was an Irish poet and novelist. Regarded as one of the foremost poets of the 20th century, his best known works include the novel Tarry Flynn and the poems Raglan Road and The Great Hunger...
: "On Grafton Street in November we tripped lightly along the ledge". - DidoDido (singer)Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong , known as Dido, is an English singer-songwriter.Dido shot to worldwide success with her debut album, No Angel...
features a track entitled "Grafton Street" on her latest album Safe Trip HomeSafe Trip HomeThe album received very positive reviews. Metacritic, which is a website that gives an average rating over a number of reviews, rates the album at 74 out of a 100...
. This song is a tribute to Dido's deceased father, who was Irish. - Grafton Street is mentioned several times in James JoyceJames JoyceJames Augustine Aloysius Joyce was an Irish novelist and poet, considered to be one of the most influential writers in the modernist avant-garde of the early 20th century...
's DublinersDublinersDubliners is a collection of 15 short stories by James Joyce, first published in 1914. They were meant to be a naturalistic depiction of Irish middle class life in and around Dublin in the early years of the 20th century....
.