SMITHFIELD, DUBLIN

'Smithfield' (Irish: ''Margadh na Feirme'', meaning "Farmers' Market") is an area on the northside of Dublin. Its focal point is a public square, formerly an open market, now officially called Smithfield Plaza, but known locally as Smithfield Square or Smithfield Market.
Notable landmarks include the The Old Jameson Whiskey Distillery and the Observation Tower. The area also has a seasonal ice rink.
There is no general agreement on the extent of the area known as Smithfield, but it might generally be said to incorporate the area bounded by the River Liffey to the south, Bow Street to the east, Queen Street to the west, and North Brunswick street to the north.

Contents

History

Features

Developments

See also

External link

History

'Smithfield Market' was laid out in the mid 17th century as a marketplace, the quiet cobbled area being a welcome breathing space after the hustle and bustle present in the rest of the city. Until recently the square was lined with innercity 'farm yards' housing livestock. In 1964 Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor spent time here, as Burton worked on the filmset in Smithfield for the film adaption of John le Carre's novel ''The Spy Who Came in from the Cold''. Smithfield has been recently rejuvenated under the HARP (Historic Area Rejuvenation Plan. The restoration involved lifting more than 400,000 one hundred and twenty-year-old cobblestones, cleaning them by hand and re-laying them. Contempory architecture and twelve 26 metre gas lighting masts, each with a 2 metre flame, now flank the square, but even now you can still get a sniff of horses as they take up their rightful place at Smithfield at the Horse Market (every first Sunday the month). The sight and sounds on these Sundays give an impression of what Smithfield once was.

Features

The Smithfield area is also home to the 'Dublin City Fruit Vegetable and Flower Market', one of Dublin's best kept Victorian architectural secrets. The Council recently demolished the adjacent Fish Market building and plan to redevelop the rest of the site.

Developments

Debatably, Smithfield may include the satellite, and developing "Museum district" to the west, and the Four Courts district to the east. These districts are largely residential and combined with the area around Smithfield square they comprise the main Liffey river frontage of Dublin 7.
Recent commercial, residential and cultural developments have led to the area becoming newly fashionable in the first decade of the 21st century with venues like The Dice Bar and The Voodoo Lounge proving a hip alternative to the city centre clubs and Park Inn Hotel becoming increasingly popular as a conference venue as well as for tourist accommodation.

See also

★ Point Village

★ Spencer Dock

External link

★ http://www.smithfieldonice.ie

★ Map of Smithfield