A story of transformation, creativity and community
Temple Bar is one of Dublin’s most famous and beloved destinations. Its cobbled streets are filled with music, culture and creativity, and attract over 20 million pedestrians every year. What few visitors realise is how close it came to being something very different.
A different future planned
In the 1980s, Temple Bar was set to be transformed into a major transport hub, with plans for a central bus station replacing much of the historic neighbourhood. At the time, it was an area in decline. Many of its buildings were derelict or poorly maintained, and vacant sites had been turned into car parks. Wedged between the River Liffey to the north and Dame Street to the south, and stretching from Fishamble Street to Westmoreland Street, Temple Bar seemed destined to disappear, and with it, one of the oldest parts of Dublin.
A local grassroots movement of artists and cultural organisations pushed back against the demolition plans, campaigning hard for the area's preservation. In 1991, the Temple Bar Area Renewal and Development Act officially designated the area as Dublin's cultural quarter, creating Temple Bar Properties Ltd to oversee its regeneration.
Supported by significant EU investment and championed as a flagship regeneration project by then-Taoiseach Charles Haughey ahead of Dublin’s year as European City of Culture in 1991, Temple Bar was given a new direction.
Reimagining urban spaces
EU-supported regeneration began with infrastructure: crumbling buildings were restored, and streets were repaved with cobblestone. New residential buildings rose, and previously empty or neglected sites became public squares, cultural venues and homes.
From the mid-1990s onward, the emphasis expanded toward social and cultural activity alongside the creative use of the district, strengthening its appeal for artists, visitors, and creative businesses alike. A collective of young Irish architects steered the process with a vision for a mixed-use neighborhood: ground floors were dedicated to shops, galleries, and restaurants, while upper floors were reserved for residential studios and apartments. The plan also included deliberate housing provisions for students, young adults, the elderly, and those requiring social housing.
EU resources most notably funded Meeting House Square and Temple Bar Square, establishing places for gathering, performance and public life in the heart of the city. Over the course of the first (1989–1993) and second (1994–1999) rounds of EU Structural Funds for Ireland, Temple Bar attracted a total of IR£40.6 million (€51.55 million) in EU and State funding, of which IR£22.1 million (€28.06 million) came directly from the European Regional Development Fund. With these changes, pedestrian movement through the area doubled, and Temple Bar became the fourth most popular tourist destination in Dublin. In the decades that followed, the EU budget continued to support numerous educational, cultural and social projects in the area.
Building a home for culture
Today, Temple Bar is the most visited area in Dublin. Live music drifts from traditional pubs, street performers work the crowds, and independent cafés, galleries and shops line the narrow lanes. Temple Bar remains a place where Dublin’s past and present meet, welcoming visitors from across Europe and around the world.
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Temple Bar Area Renewal and Development Act, which will be celebrated with the Temple Bar 35 festival. This once-off, six-month cultural programme (July–December 2026) is designed as a public, accessible cultural response during Ireland’s EU Presidency.
A story that continues
A key objective of the renewal process was to strengthen cultural infrastructure, building new centres and upgrading existing ones. These included The Ark Children’s Cultural Centre, the Temple Bar Music Centre, the Irish Film Institute and the rebuilt Project Arts Centre. They form a network of institutions that remains one of the most important legacies of the regeneration and created a lasting framework for creativity, learning and cultural exchange.
For Aideen Howard, Director of The Ark, Temple Bar’s regeneration is a story about the lasting impact culture can have on communities and on future generations.
Through her perspective, we explore the past, present and future of Temple Bar: how a neighbourhood once destined for demolition became one of Dublin’s most recognised cultural landmarks, and how that has allowed The Ark to thrive.
What has always defined The Ark is a belief in the power of the arts to shape children’s lives in meaningful and joyful ways. Over the past 30 years, we’ve had the privilege of working with extraordinary artists, partners and communities to create ambitious and fun cultural experiences for children. I am particularly proud of The Ark’s child participation practice, which means that children are at the centre of our decision-making.
Investing in future generations
The Ark is one of the most distinctive institutions to have come out of Temple Bar's regeneration. Founded in 1995, it is a dedicated cultural centre for children, creating opportunities for young people to discover and engage with the arts from an early age.
Thanks to the original EU investment and annual support from the Arts Council of Ireland, Department of Education and Youth, and Dublin City Council, The Ark has been able to grow and thrive over the past 30 years as a vibrant centre for children.
Over that time, The Ark has welcomed more than one million visitors and expanded to create work for all children up to the age of 12, including babies. The Ark's programme now reaches well beyond Temple Bar, reaching children in schools, libraries, crèches, early years settings, universities, and IPAS accommodation centres.
At its core, The Ark’s purpose is to realise children’s right to art and culture with ambition and joy. It commissions, produces and presents art for, by, with and about children.
