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GRAFTON STREET HAS seen many changes throughout its lifetime, and it is currently undergoing yet another makeover.
As one of Dublin city’s main shopping thoroughfares, it has seen millions of locals, visitors and tourists pass through during its lifetime.
Dating back to the 17th century, and originally a residential street, since the 19th century it has been a destination for those who want to spend money – but also those who want to watch Dublin life in all its guises.
Today, a wander down the street will see you pass by earthy flower sellers, internationally famous retail stores, buskers, mime artists, and camera-toting tourists.
The look of the street has changed much since its early days, but glance above the sometimes gaudy signs and neon frontage and up to the building fronts above, and you’ll find the true face of the Grafton St of old. The incredibly detailed buildings (some of whom had bomb shelters in their basements) are a side of the grand face of Dublin, and a look back at the days when each one was a home and not a retail store.
Grafton St is never quiet. It can be bawdy, it can be overwhelming, it can be tricky to walk down when the weather brings ice, but it’s part of the beating heart of the capital.
The street is currently undergoing construction work – after which its rickety paving will be smoothed and hopefully weather-resistant – so here are some photos that show the other faces of Grafton St throughout the years.
All photos courtesy of Dublin City Public Library and Archive.
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I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, we should pedestrianise as much of the city centre as possible. All around college green would be amazing..
No pics of switzers windows?? For shame.
Was just thinking that. Such a huge part of childhood christmas memories
the captain America sign is still there after all those years!
I’ve said it twice and I’ll say it again, we should pedestrianise as much of the city centre as possible. All around college green would be amazing..
Grafton cinema famous spot for those on the Mitch from school ,watching cartoons all day and when the lights went on half of your class would be there
You missed vital education and Christian brother beatings
Does anyone remember the other cinema on Grafton Street?
The good old days when there were street sweepers with brushes and a cart.
Maybe it’s just nostalgia or tidy black and white photos but Grafton St looked nicer pre-pedestrianisation.
If u go to any city in the works n.y London u can sit outside at a bar near the themes the Hudson try that on the Liffey junkies scagged out of there mind some kip this place
Dreadful. Just came back for the week, scobes all up the boardwalk, not a single Garda or even a group of hhnnyardai around. “C’mereto me will ye, oi just want a eeuroo” Absolute dirt. Living off the state like parasites. Even up around Guinness’s harassing tourists.
Love these . Streets seemed better laid and cleaner back then. I wonder would I go to the same source if I wanted pix of east wall over the generations, I’m not from Dublin so if anyone has some knowledge of a good source..
Eugene, the street seem better laid then because it is 30 or so years newer than what it is today. That’s why a new street is being laid there today. It seemed cleaner then because there were a few thousand people less walking on it then than what there is now. Machine operated cleaners are on it every time I walk down it.
Didn’t think of it like that Gary…an I was just about to praise the city council of old !! Naaa
Yes you could – see http://dublincitypubliclibraries.com/image/sbs024-josephines – and you can do a search on the website for other locations
People seemed much thinner and healthier in those days.
The clue is in the photo first McDonald’s in Ireland opens … do you want to go large lol
Loved the Eblana bookstore on the left side bend coming down the street…could bump into local writers and other ‘personalities’ there anytime. I remember getting a makeup course at a “Dorothy Grey” counter in the first little ‘mall’ off Grafton St. , back in 1950s. How about the place on the corner of Anne St (I think) where you would rent a TV set…On one of my early visits back from the US, my kids were so happy to see a ‘Captain America’s fast food place…waaaaay before McDonalds arrived. My boyfriend and I (now married 51 years) used neck in the back row of the Cartoon cinema. What was the name of the store that sold ‘fancy’ women’s clothes……on the block just before you turned the corner over to McDaids pub?…Aaaah great memories from our poor old days as students.
My mother still tells the story of the night she was at that cinema and it went on fire. They’d a gas heater (superser type thing) heating the place. Thank god health and safety has come on since then!
I know it could use a bit of work and I agree with pedestrianising the area that’s a great idea, however there are streets were businesses are closing regularly these streets need investment to attract shoppers, grafton street will always have customers.
World
Thames.
Love looking at old photographs from eras gone by, so much one can learn from them and very interesting too.
“beating hard of the city”?
Go vegan
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