Dublin Apartments - Copyrights by DublinEscape.com : Dublin Hotels and Vacation Rentals Dublin
Dublin Holiday Apartments | Dublin Groups | Stags and Hen | Dublin Holiday Furnished Apartments
Grafton Street and St Stephens Green, Grafton street is one of the busiest streets in Europe and one of the most expensive places to operate a shop, even more expensive than London's Oxford street and the fifth most expensive in the world per square M2.
Grafton street which was pedestrianised in the early 1980's is home to the famous Bewley's Oriental Cafe (the only surviving branch) which opened in 1927 by Ernest Bewley and which became a Dublin institution and favorite place for Dubliners. Run by a quaker family (The Bewley's) until the early 1980's, it ran into financial trouble and eventually closed its doors in 2004. After an outcry from the public reopened and now seems to be doing a roaring trade. The Grafton street branch is famous for its original Harry Clarke stained glass windows which were completed just before his death in 1931.
Many famous songs have had Grafton street in their lyrics and many street entertainers started their careers on the street including Glen Hansard of (The Frames) and academy Award Winner for the film Once.
Dublins best know street performer The Dice Man (Thom McGinty) worked Grafton street for many years and was even arrested (believe it or not) for wearing fish net stockings and very little else during one advertising campaign after some ould dear complained to the gardai (police) he was charged with indecent exposure.
Grafton Street is home to Dublins most famous store Brown Thomas owned by the Billionaire Galen Weston. After buying its main rival Switzers, Brown Thomas moved to the bigger store on the opposite side of the street and changed the name and then sold there old premises to Marks and Spencer.
Grafton street leads on to St Stephen's Green, Dublin's 2nd biggest park (Next toThe Phoenix park) one of, if not the the largest enclosed park in Europe.
St Stephens Green park is a special place and is very popular with Dubliners, attractng 1000's of them daily. During the summer months or sunny days you cannot find a bench or even a space to lie down. It is like a little osais in the otherwise noisy city. Famous for its Ducks and other water fowl which Dubliners love to feed it dates back to 1664 when it was first enclosed with a wall.
In 1916 during the Easter rising it was taken over and used by the Citizen army as an outpost to attack the British forces. If turned out a bad idea as the british took up positions in the buildings surroundings and over looking the park which make it easy to fire at targets in the park.
Story goes that during the rising, fire was suspended to allow the park keepers in to feed the ducks.
The park has many unusual features including a special area for the blind with scented plants and flowers each labeled in braille and which can be handled by people with damage.
There is also a number of statues and monuments including ones in honor of James Joyce, Robert Emmett, Wolfe Tone, The Famine , O'Donovan Rossa and several lesser know ones.
The main enterance at the Grafton street side is known as the Fusiliers arch in honor of the Irish who died in the Boer War.
Park is Open 9am to 6pm , 7 days a week and is well worth a visit.
Grafton Street and St. Stephens Green