Nassau Street/Grafton Street

I love just about all the photographs I feature here - the romantic in me loves imagining what became of the people in them and comparing the changes in the physical locations. However, it's unavoidable that some will appeal to me more than others and as such, the picture on the left is one of my favourites of those I've featured to date. I remember this man with the top hat and umbrella every time I turn the corner from Grafton Street onto Nassau Street.

1960s advert

The buildings on the left reaching down Suffolk Street are mostly intact, besides that unfortunate light coloured modern fronted building. Although it was situated around the corner on Dame Street when this photograph was taken, one constant that still exists today is Barnardo's Furriers, the green storefront on the far right of the modern picture.

Established in 1812 by John Barnardo, the business lays claim to being the oldest family of furriers in the world. John Barnardo was the father of Dr Thomas John Barnardo, who founded the eponymous charity. Despite fur falling decidedly out of fashion, the business continues to this day. Security is tight though as there is an ongoing campaign from animal rights organisations to close the shop, and protests occur there on a regular basis.

References:

CLAR26, National Photographic Archive
Left: www.news4.ie
Right: Bailey Allen archive, NUI Galway

Great Denmark Street

This is a view from Great Denmark Street down Gardiner Row towards Findlater's Church on Parnell Square. Great Denmark Street was indeed originally part of Gardiner's Row, but was renamed in 1787, probably in honour of Queen Matilda of Norway and Denmark, sister of King George III.

One of the best known buildings on Great Denmark Street is Belvedere College. The College was established in 1832 in Belvedere House, built by the Earl of Belvedere, George Augustus Rochfort, and since that time has educated many distinguished Irishmen. The house at Number 5, which was formerly the town residence of the Earls of Fingal, became part of the College in 1880. The school has several notable alumni, most famously perhaps James Joyce, who used the school as a backdrop to A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. They also include Austin Clarke and William Fay from the arts world, Cathal Brugha and Garret Fitzgerald from politics, and Terry Wogan and John Bowman from the sphere of media.

Another noteworthy building was Number 1, which was the Dublin home of the Earl of Charleville, on which site the Belvedere Hotel now stands. The street was a fashionable address in the 18th and 19th centuries. Sadly though today is a very different story, with the street showing the same decay and neglect as many of the other Georgian areas of north inner city Dublin (see left).

Despite this neglect, many original architectural features are still present - hopefully these are preserved and restored before it's too late.

References:
EAS_1679, National Photographic Archive 
Chapters of Dublin, Dillon Cosgrove (1909)