﻿One of the most popular places in Ireland's capital city of Dublin is Temple Bar,
known for its traditional music, lively nightlife, many pubs, tasty restaurants and artistic vibe.
Temple Bar is a must-visit destination for locals and tourists alike. In fair weather, you will see
thousands of people out on the streets standing or sitting on the pavement with a pint in hand,
having a grand time. The sidewalks are mobbed and the pubs are packed. Sure, it can get a
little rowdy and noisy with all that Guinness flowing. But don't worry, this area is very safe,
night and day, with people out just to have a good time. It is one big street party. (music)
Stick around, because at the end of the program we have a bagpipe concert in the street, after
we present the many great scenes of Temple Bar. There's no doubt this is a place with a lively
atmosphere created by lots of people day and night, giving it a unique, energetic character.
If you're looking for a tranquil evening in a quiet neighborhood, there are many other parts
of Dublin that will make you happy. But if you're up for some fun, come on over to Temple Bar. And
it's also a good place to have dinner, where you'll find a more peaceful atmosphere inside
the restaurants. There are usually a few locals around, but granted this is a touristic place,
and there are many good reasons why visitors flock here. So don't come to Dublin and avoid
it because you think it's a tourist trap. This is a fun, authentic place with much to offer.
There is kind of a Temple Bar for locals, and that's across the street over on Dame Lane,
where you'll find the Dubliners out, enjoying themselves in their pubs outdoors, having a drink
and a chat, but hardly any tourists. This is only a block away from Temple Bar, a place where you
might strike up a conversation with the locals. We'll see more of this place later in the program.
While Temple Bar is famous for its nightlife,
the area also has a daytime charm when it takes on a different character. With the restaurants
and shops and many of the pubs still offering live music. And yes, you can dance. (music)
That thriving music scene is one of the best features of Temple Bar, creating a lively
and energetic atmosphere. Traditional Irish music with its soul stirring melodies and foot
tapping rhythms can be heard echoing through the streets. Many of the neighborhood's pubs and bars
host live music sessions, inviting talented musicians to showcase their skills. (music)
It's usually a fiddle and guitar with some singing, but these music sessions
often involve a variety of traditional instruments like the bodhran, the Irish drum, tin whistle and
accordion, creating an unforgettable ambiance that captivates locals and tourists alike.
You will also hear music from many street performers, so stop a while and listen and
be generous with your tip if you like what you hear. These streets serve as
an open stage for musicians, ranging from solo performers to small bands of various qualities,
to express their art and connect with passers by. Street music can serve as a platform for
aspiring musicians to gain exposure and support themselves, perhaps using
it as a launching pad for their careers while refining their skills and building a fan base.
Music continues late into the night, enhancing the city's renowned nightlife and contributing
to the energetic ambiance and vibrant atmosphere of Dublin's streets. We'll hear a lot more music
in the streets and in the pubs towards the end of the program. (music) Perhaps
the most famous and most photographed music pub is the Temple Bar Pub itself, a true institution
in the neighborhood, with its cozy interiors adorned with vintage photographs and memorabilia.
If you're a fan of Irish music and a good pint of Guinness, you're in for a treat. (music) The
Temple Bar Pub is one of Dublin's most iconic and well-known establishments, perhaps the most
famous pub in Ireland. It has become synonymous with the name Temple Bar, and is often used as
a symbol for the entire area. Inside, the pub exudes a cozy and traditional atmosphere, with
an interior characterized by low ceilings, dark wood furnishings and an abundance of memorabilia,
giving it an Old World charm. The pub's in a historic building with a distinctive red exterior,
adorned with hanging flower baskets, and it's quite large on the inside, with many rooms. It's
a great place to experience the warm hospitality for which the Irish pub culture is famous. The
vibrant atmosphere, bustling crowds and live music make it a favorite spot for tourists and locals.
However, due to its popularity, the pub can get quite crowded, especially during peak hours and
weekends. Its prominent location and fame make it a must-visit destination. This neighborhood
is also a treasure trove for food lovers. From traditional Irish fare to international cuisine,
you'll find an array of dining options to suit every palate. They've got lots of pasta, there's
Asian food, anything you want, whether you're in the mood for hearty pub grub, gourmet burgers,
seafood or vegetarian delights, Temple Bar has something for everyone. The many restaurants
and cafes cater to all preferences, maybe a hearty Irish breakfast, a, bowl of Irish stew or a fusion
of global cuisines. If you are on a budget, or don't have much time to sit down at a restaurant
and order something off the menu, there are some affordable places, with quick service to eat and
drink in the area. One favorite fast food is the pastie, an easy-to-eat, hand-held, affordable meal
in a crust, and quite delicious, served quickly with a variety of fillings to choose from.
If you're interested in shopping, Temple Bar offers a mix of independent boutiques,
vintage stores and craft shops. You can find unique clothing, jewelry, artworks and souvenirs
to take home. Located in central Dublin, between the River Liffey and Dame Street, just one block
south is that local hangout mentioned earlier, Dame Lane, that we will get back to soon. The
main parts of town are in easy walking distance. For example, St Stephen's Green is just 500 meters
away. The other major destinations are all in easy walking distance. Central Dublin is a compact area
filled with great sights to see. If you're in the north side of downtown, say, along busy O'Connell
Street, just walk south to the river and you can go across the pedestrian Ha'penny Bridge, another
scenic landmark you'll enjoy, that will lead you right into Temple Bar, through Merchant's Arch,
an old brick building and alleyway constructed in the 1820s. Now it's a bar and restaurant. This
will lead you directly into Temple Bar Square, the very center of this colorful neighborhood.
This lively plaza has a very pleasant terrace in the center with open-air restaurant tables,
and it's surrounded by other pubs, bars and eateries. Some of them have a representative
out front inviting you to come in. "What's the restaurant, what's the name?" "The Old Mill
Restaurant, try, it's special. For me it's the best food that I ever tried it. And it's a cozy
place, it is small. Inside some traditional food." "Irish food?" "Irish food, yes."
"And beer." "And also beer, and traditional beer, affordable and really,
really tasty." Across the street, another pub for dining. "What's the restaurant?"
"It's the Auld Dubliner." "Uh-Huh. And what kind of food?" "Irish food, mainly."
They have a mix of hot and cold traditional Irish dishes,
along with some contemporary choices. Or you could even have breakfast here.
Gallagher Boxty House specializes in Boxty. The that's a traditional Irish potato pancake
made from a mixture of grated raw potatoes, mashed cooked potatoes, flour, buttermilk and eggs. Then
we've got Bad Bob's, food freshly prepared in-house from locally-sourced suppliers.
Then there's the Clarence Hotel. It was opened and operated by U2's Bono and The Edge. They still own
the building, but others now manage it. One of the wild Irish traditions is the party for
a bride-to-be, with her girlfriends carrying on in the streets, acting a bit silly and doing a little
drinking. (Laughter) Temple Bar is a curious name because there is no temple here and there is much
more than one bar. In fact, it's loaded with many pubs, the defining characteristic of the
neighborhood. The name is derived from Sir William Temple, a renowned English diplomat and writer who
lived here in the 17th century. The deep history goes way back to the Vikings and even much
earlier. In the 18th century Temple Bar became a thriving commercial district with warehouses,
taverns, homes and brothels. It was also a center of Dublin's political and cultural
life. In the 19th century, Temple Bar began to decline as the city's commercial center moved to
the north side of the River Liffey. By the 20th century, the area was in a state of urban decay,
with many derelict buildings. In the 1980s, a regeneration project was launched to revitalize
the area. By 1990, locals began to gather here for drink and conversation. I happened to be here
in 1992 and was able to walk around and take some video of the people out in the streets,
and it's quite a bit different. Keep in mind, this is the same main street that we've been
looking at throughout the program. Now it has all of those wonderful restaurants and shops and pubs,
but in 1992, people were just sitting on the sidewalk, drinking and talking.
Even though it's a big tourist hotspot today, it looks like 30 years ago there were no tourists.
When you have a look at these people sprawled out on the sidewalk and standing up on the corner,
talking and drinking, and these people are all about in their twenties. It's a college crowd, and
no tourists, and no old people, just young people out there having fun. Back to modern day Dublin,
we're going to have a look at other places nearby. Temple Lane South is a quieter street in
the neighborhood. It still has a few restaurants and some bars and beautiful cobblestone paving,
and it leads down to Dame Street on the south edge of Temple Bar. You can see this is a major
thoroughfare, much different than those narrow pedestrian lanes of Temple Bar. It
goes for about 600 meters running east and west, connecting Trinity College with Christ Church.
One block south, there is a similar neighborhood with cobblestone streets and the pubs and the
outdoor drinking. But this place is kind of like a Temple Bar for locals. You will only
see a few tourists here on Dame Court and Dame Lane. It's mostly young locals out enjoying a
conversation and having a drink. They call it the crack and Irish art of convivial socializing.
For a little insight to how these locals feel about Temple Bar,
watch her reaction when I mentioned, what about Temple Bar over there?
"Well, Temple Bar over there..." (he shakes her head) "Well, yeah, but this is nicer,
more local." "Yeah." Here, you're not going to find performances of loud Irish music,
but if you're looking for a place to have some conversation with Dubliners, come on over to
Dame Court and Dame Lane, have a drink and see what happens. Then wander about and explore the
area. Dublin has nearly 800 pubs to discover, more per-capita than any other city in the world.
After visiting Dame Lane, you could take a nice stroll further into the little side streets of
Dublin along Wicklow, then turn down Grafton, or up to Trinity College. We'll save that for another
video, because we're heading back up to Dame Street, have a look around, and then returning
to Temple Bar for more Irish music. Dame Street is a big, busy road with many restaurants such as
Millstone, fine dining in an elegant setting at a reasonable price. For example, lunches currently
about 12 euro, and you've got your choice of steak sandwich or beef burger, grilled salmon, vegan
tofu salad or buffalo wings. More eateries await you on this street like Bobo's, and there are some
Italian restaurants. The street changes name as it goes along to College Green, approaching Trinity
College. Down Parliament Street, you'll have a view of Dublin City Hall, in the 18th-century
Georgian style of architecture, which leads us back into Temple Bar, strolling once again
along that main lane. Oh, yes, there are more restaurants, whom and we've got music in the
streets. We'll have a lot more of the traditional Irish music coming right up for you in a pub.
Most of the action is centered on the main street that changes the name three times, starting as
Fleet Street, then Temple Bar and finally Essex Street. It's only about 400 meters from the
Millennium Bridge down to the O'Connell Bridge, which are the effective boundaries of Temple Bar.
It's a small area, but packed with people. We'll have some more street music coming up in a moment,
and take you inside another pub, then we'll finish up with the bagpipe band. (Bagpipe music)
I'm going to take you inside the Quays Restaurant,
with a famous pub on the ground floor and upstairs, several dining rooms serving
excellent cuisine, while we listen to some more street music from my favorite group.
(long Itrish
music session
in the street) (scenes
in the restaurant)
During an earlier visit, we came upon a most unusual music session, in a parking lot -- a group
of bagpipers practicing and performing for a local street crowd. (Bagpipe music) Pipe bands often
participate in parades and festivals and accompany traditional dances and songs,
but here they are in a parking lot where the audience could get very close to the loud music.
Curiously, they are playing Scottish bagpipes, which are different than traditional Irish pipes.
In this Scottish version, the air is blown into a tube connected to the bag, which is then squeezed
into the pipes to make the music, while Irish bagpipers do not blow the air into the bag,
but instead pump it in with arm motion and a bellows. Bagpipes have been also used in various
forms throughout history in different parts of the world, including being used in warfare,
where they would rally the troops and scare off enemies with their somewhat
menacing sound. That distinctive music is often described as being loud, mournful and powerful.
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