By Faye Thompson
Dublin City is one of the most culturally abundant places in Ireland. A buzzing hub of diversity and creativity, but this wasn’t always the case. We are taking a deep dive into Dublin’s Creative Quarter and its history to see exactly how it became the bustling hive of culture and creatives that it is today.
The hub was revamped in 2012 and named Dublin’s Creative Quarter, the area stretches from George’s St to South William St. The quarter is littered with independent shops, cafes, and salons. Most of the businesses are Irish-owned and independent, along with some of the most popular bars in the city like Hogans bar, Farrier and Draper, Grogans, and previously PMACS (we miss you Pmacs). There is incredible diversity within the range of bars and restaurants in the region, from Mediterranean, Italian, Greek, and everything in between there is a cuisine for everyone.
One of the most prominent features of the Creative Quarter is the iconic George’s Arcade but not many people are aware of its rich history. Originally opened in 1881 the old building was introduced to shoppers as a market full of stalls and shops. Tragically just 10 years after the market was opened it became engulfed in flames, business owners lost their shops and stalls and residents living about the markets lost their homes. The decision was made to rebuild the markets and two years later in 1894, the markets reopened their doors.
The cost of the restoration was £30,000 which is equivalent to around 2 million euros today. Since then, significant investments have been put into the arcade to eventually cover it in red brick to improve its conservation. This brings us to the George’s Arcade we all know and love today, almost 150 years later. The market has flourished into an old-mall-type shopping district full of small businesses with hundreds of products throughout. Stalls line either side of the two aisles with an array of products and services for everyone. The interior looks like a fairytale marketplace with exposed brick throughout the walls and ceiling, the entire arcade is a time capsule transporting shoppers back in time to the start of Dublin’s prosperity.
Dublins Creative Quarter is the home of reimagined and reanimated ideas, many businesses work hard to engage in sustainable trading. One business does this expertly by buying and selling preloved clothes. We often see fashion trends come and go; fast fashion businesses proficiently keep up with these trends despite them disappearing weeks later. Shops like Thirty-Five Vintage guarantee a sustainable shopping experience by selling top-quality second-hand clothes that are new to you. The shop located on Curve St is in the heart of the Creative Quarter selling pristine and preloved fashion at reasonable prices.
With all these businesses and so many more, Dublin Creative Quarter is the perfect place to visit in Dublin leaving little to be desired by shoppers, foodies, and bar hoppers. We are excited to continue watching this beautiful part of the city flourish and grow bigger with more options for consumers and opportunities for business owners.
Comments