Capel Street

Capel Street /ˈkeɪpəl/ Irish: Sráid Chéipil[1] is a street in Dublin, Ireland.[2][3] On 20 May 2022, it was made traffic-free, following a campaign by people who wanted to improve the quality of life on the street. It is now the longest traffic-free street in Dublin. [4]

Capel Street
Clockwise from top: Capel Street near its intersection with Bolton Street; dining terraces outside restaurants and bars; along with Parnell Street, Capel Street is known for its Korean, Japanese, and Chinese eateries.
Capel Street is located in Central Dublin
Capel Street
Native nameSráid Chéipil (Irish)
NamesakeArthur Capell, 1st Earl of Essex
Length600 m (2,000 ft)
Width14 metres (46 ft)
LocationDublin, Ireland
Postal codeD01
Coordinates53.348438°N 6.268745°W / 53.348438; -6.268745
north endBolton Street
south endOrmond Quay
Construction
Completion1670s
Other
Known forrestaurants, shops, cafés and pubs; immigrant community

History
"View from Capel-Street, looking over Essex-Bridge" (Grattan Bridge), 1797. The state lottery offices are visible at left.

Capel Street is named after Arthur Capell, 1st Earl of Essex, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 1672–1677.[5] Historically, it was the site of the chapel of St Mary's Abbey. The street was laid out by Sir Humphrey Jervis in the late 17th century on the Abbey lands he purchased in 1674.[6] He also built Essex Bridge (today Grattan Bridge), and the street was known for its mansions and a royal mint. In the 18th century, it became a commercial hub, with two-bay buildings replacing most of the "Dutch Billy" houses.[7] In the late 1700s, the Italian composer, Tommaso Giordani, performed at a small purpose built theatre on the street.[8] The Capel Street Theatre also stood there in the 18th century.

The Torch Theatre operated on Capel Street from 1935–41. The street declined in the 20th century, before a revival around the 1980s. Today it is known for its variety of restaurants, shops, cafés and pubs; as Panti, the owner of Pantibar put it, "You can buy a lightbulb, sexual lubricant, Brazilian rice, get a pint and go to a trad session". Louis Copeland's tailor is another notable business.[9][10][11]

Architecture

The street affords a vista all the way from the junction with Bolton Street south through Parliament Street to Dublin's City Hall. Capel Street is notable for the remains of some "Dutch Billy" houses dating from the 18th century.[12][13]

  • Berlin Optician, 157 Capel Street
    Berlin Optician, 157 Capel Street
  • Site of the Torch Theatre, 114–116 Capel Street
    Site of the Torch Theatre, 114–116 Capel Street
  • Slattery's Bar, 129 Capel Street
    Slattery's Bar, 129 Capel Street
  • Jack Nealon's pub, 165 Capel Street
    Jack Nealon's pub, 165 Capel Street

See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Capel Street, Dublin.

References
  1. "Sráid Chéipil– Placename database of Ireland". Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  2. "Lovin Dublin City Spotlight - Capel Street". LovinDublin.com.
  3. Greene, John C.; Clark, Gladys L. H. (9 February 1993). The Dublin Stage, 1720-1745: A Calendar of Plays, Entertainments, and Afterpieces. Lehigh University Press. ISBN 9780934223225 – via Google Books.
  4. "Capel Street officially becomes longest traffic-free street in Dublin".
  5. M'Cready, C. T. (1987). Dublin street names dated and explained. Blackrock, Co. Dublin: Carraig. p. 18. ISBN 1-85068-005-1. OCLC 263974843.
  6. Clerkin, Paul (2001). Dublin street names. Dublin: Gill & Macmillan. p. 25. ISBN 0-7171-3204-8. OCLC 48467800.
  7. Oram, Hugh. "Capital vision – An Irishman's Diary on Capel Street". The Irish Times.
  8. Maxwell, Constantia (1997). Dublin under the Georges : 1714-1830. Dublin: Lambay Books. p. 125. ISBN 0708944973. OCLC 1244738727.
  9. "Capel Street: Why Dublin's black sheep is its most brilliant street". independent.
  10. "Dublin Uncovered: Capel Street".
  11. "The Capel Street Series #1". DublinTown. 27 August 2014.
  12. "Dublin's lost buildings: The Dutch Billy". irisharchaeology.ie. 10 March 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  13. McDonald, Frank (13 October 2011). "Dutch Billy 18th century houses at risk". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.