Temple bar is one of the most famous neighborhoods in the center of Dublin and the name that our Irish pub in Barcelona borrows. Believe it or not, this Irish neighborhood is not only part of <strong>the mecca of the best Irish pubs</strong> in the world, but it is also a cultural center of great relevance that is made up of theaters and schools.
For the most daring, this area of the city is one of the points of the city dedicated to nightlife, with a wide variety of places to enjoy the Irish tradition together with people from all over the world.
In today’s article and as a tribute to our name, we will show you everything you need to know about this emblematic place and its most important curiosities.
Why is the neighborhood known as Temple Bar?
This word is actually a composition of two different English terms.
The word “temper” comes from one of the most important English families of the 16th century, who settled in Ireland as colonists, building estates and gardens in the middle of the River Liffey.
However, there is a theory that this word can also come from “temper” which means temperance.
Regarding “bar” it is known that it originally referred to a Gallic word known as “barr” which means path or step.
This is because long before it was an area where some boats and workers transited…
Although it could also be translated as “the road of temperance” in part because it was an area of urban suburbs close to the west of Christchurch Cathedral (1031).
Irish quarter backgrounds
In ancient times there are vestiges of the presence of the Celts in that region, the most important group were the Picts or Fir Bolg and throughout history they became the largest tribe on the island that was usually ruled by a high king .
After the fall of the Roman Empire and throughout the Middle Ages, the early Irish were converted to Christianity by Saint Patrick, who evangelized the larger Celtic tribes, establishing a cultural center of study.
After the Viking invasions of the 9th and 10th centuries, the island was formed into two main factions (Irish and Norman) that after the battle of Clontarf and after the expulsion of the Vikings they established themselves as small independent factions that little by little were incorporated into Irish customs.
In those days the Temple Bar area was known as “St. Andrews Parish” which was basically a suburban area under the banner of the Normans that was located outside the city walls and was abandoned due to incessant attacks by the Irish
In the middle of the modern age, the area continued to be a remote area of the city, where various brothel networks were established and became one of the busiest urban districts, since it was located near the city center, but it gradually fell into disused until it became a residential area.
Although at first it was intended to build a bus station to reuse the space, it was thanks to the insistence of the population that this work was rejected. Later, during the 17th-18th centuries, thanks to low rental income, many young artists and merchants were attracted there and established their workshops, theaters and shops in the neighborhood.
Two important milestones occurred in this era: First, the world-famous chorus – Hallelujah! Handel’s Messiah had its world premiere at Temple Bar on April 13, 1742 and second, the mythical Irish pub</ a> Temple bar opened in 1840.
To all this was added that during the years 1870-1940 the government created a non-profit organization and thanks to this, institutions such as the Irish Center of Photography and the Irish Film Institute settled in the neighborhood.
All these changes made the neighborhood grow until it became the place we know today.
Irish pub Temple Bar
If there is one place that stands out from the majority, it is the irish pub Temple bar, one of the oldest Irish pubs in the area, which today has become a tourist attraction where many visitors go to try their great variety of drinks.
It is an international Irish tavern with decorations typical of Irish pubs, and it is also a space where it is possible to taste a wide variety of Guinness beers while live music from different artists plays.
In addition to Temple bar, there are other quite striking Irish pubs such as “The foggy new” and “The palace bar”, famous for their attractive decoration, atmosphere and of course frequented by people from all over the world.
Finally, in this neighborhood there is a popular expression known as “pub crawling” which is none other than going from bar to bar to liven up the night.
As you can see Dublin is a unique experience for all lovers of beer and Irish culture… However, you don’t need to travel so far to enjoy that experience, in Barcelona you will find our Temple Bar with the best Irish essence of the place, the best imported beers and the best sports programming.
