The Temple Bar Pub, Dublin

The Temple Bar boasts one of the most photographed pub facades in Dublin, if not the world. Situated right in the heart of the tourist hub, it's typically chock-a-block with visitors from overseas and out-of-town. Despite the crowds, it offers a lively and enjoyable atmosphere, complete with traditional musicians and a vibrant beer garden.

The history of this area dates back to 1599 when Sir William Temple, a respected scholar and philosopher, began his service to the Lord Deputy of Ireland. By 1609, he had relocated to Dublin after being appointed Provost of Trinity College and Master Chancery, constructing a residence and gardens on reclaimed land at the corner of today's Temple Lane and Temple Bar street. The development of the Temple Bar district, as we recognize it today, was facilitated by the construction of a new sea wall for further land reclamation, in 1656.

In the 17th century, the term "Barr" or "barrier" often referred to a raised estuary sandbank, commonly used as a walkway. Over time, the adjacent River Liffey embankment transformed into the thoroughfare connecting this entire area, extending from Westmoreland Street to Fishamble Street. Once described by The New York Times as a "dilapidated medieval neighborhood", the Temple Bar underwent a comprehensive government-led revitalization effort in the 1990s, featuring designs from several local architectural firms.