~ ~ Mention the words “Temple Bar” to anyone from Europe or North America, and immediately you are likely to be regaled by stories of the wild time they have had while visiting this trendiest of bohemian districts in Ireland’s capital Dublin, or else how much they really want to go and pay a visit, as they’ve heard so much about it from their friends.
What is incredible about this is that as little as twenty years or so ago this district was nothing better than a run down (and fast becoming derelict) slum, right in the heart of the city, and not a stone’s throw from the city’s premier street, O’Connell Street.
A decision by the then Government to redevelop it as an entertainment and shopping area was almost laughed at, but has since proved its undoubted wisdom, as this district alone is responsible for countless thousands of tourists visiting the shores of Ireland each and every year.

~ ~ Temple Bar has always had its pubs though, and even in its poorer days these were renowned for both their quality and diversity.
The very name itself shows the esteem and regard that the Irish public have for this area; a combination of two of the most sacred institutions in Irish culture.
The “Temple” (parish church), and the “Bar”, the watering hole that nearly everyone goes to immediately upon leaving the church.
OK. I admit that I’m taking a bit of a liberty with historical accuracy here, and that this isn’t the actual true origins of the name, but it does manage to convey very well the reverence in which Temple Bar is held by lots of people, and not just the Irish.

~ ~ When Temple Bar first began to be developed, it was actually as famous for its many small art galleries and restaurants, as much as for its pubs and night clubs.
Some of these still exist, but the coming off prosperity also heralded the death knell for many of these smaller establishments, as they were either taken over by big business or turned into much larger and upmarket concerns.
This has left Temple Bar very much from the same mould as London’s Covent Garden, although it beats it hands down in the quality of the Guinness.

~ ~ Temple Bar also still has many art galleries and studios, and two of the better known are the Temple Bar Gallery and Studios itself, which is an absolute must for anyone who likes contemporary art, and the Gallery of Photography, which is just what it says.
There is also the Temple Bar Music Centre, which doubles as a rehearsal and recording studio, when it is not making an absolute fortune as a very popular bar and music venue.
You have the Clarence Hotel, owned by the Irish rock band U2, and with its own famous night club at the rear called the “Kitchen”, which is a frequent haunt of not only the owners but also of a plethora of visiting stars, musicians, and both major and “wanabee” celebrities.
And last, but by no means least, you have the extremely hip and trendy Irish Film Centre, which (for the moment at least) is one of the “coolest” venues to frequent in the whole of Dublin.
This place has actually earned its good reputation, as not only does it show some excellent cinema, and not just of the Hollywood variety, but it is also a very pleasant place to go for either a drink or a meal.
Word of warning here; the doorman at the IFC are VERY discerning, so if you want to gain admittance tone down the “Wahayys, whoopees, etc”, at least until you past the door.