17/07/2023
Fishamble Street is one of the oldest streets in Dublin, dating back to the 10th century. It was originally named Vicus Piscariorum, or Fish Street, after the fish shambles or stalls that once lined it. The street was also known as the official fish market for Dublin until the end of the 17th century when the city markets were moved to the north bank of the Liffey.
In the 18th century, Fishamble Street became a centre for music and culture. In 1741, the Bull's Head Musical Society built a Music Hall on the street, which was the site of the first performance of Handel's Messiah in 1742. The street is also home to Darkey Kelly's, a well-known Dublin music pub. It was named after Dorcas Kelly, who ran a popular brothel in the street in the 1750s and was executed for murder in 1761.
Here are some other interesting facts about Fishamble Street:
- The street was once lined with fishmongers' stalls, and was a major center for the fish trade in Dublin.
- The street was also home to a number of brothels, and was known as a somewhat disreputable area in the 18th century.
- Fishamble Street was the site of the first performance of Handel's Messiah in 1742.
- The street is now home to a number of bars, restaurants, and shops, and is a popular tourist destination.