This is the third blog in a series of blog posts, to complement our current exhibition Ireland’s Main Street, 1625-1925: An Architectural History. They will add further context to the exhibition, and the architectural evolution of Dublin's main street.

(Click map to enlarge)

During the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries the Abbey was the dominant landmark on the north side of the River Liffey. This enclave represents the first step towards the urbanization of the area.Throughout, the Abbey remained separate from the city, as was the norm.

Its land stretched to over 5000 acres, amounting to most of the land in the area and stretching to Malahide. A discernible road developed, from the river, running past the Abbey to Drumcondra and onwards to the north, along the existing Gaelic route way. Some of the more desirable lands, along this route, were granted by the Abbey, to the emerging ruling class.

In 1534 Silken Thomas Fitzgerald started his rebellion here - laying down his sword of state. The rebellion was ultimately quashed. Major political and religious reforms occurred in the 1530s and 1540s. Everything changed again with the dissolution of the monasteries in 1537. The stamp of the monastic economy (Cistercians were an agrarian order and self-sufficient) remained visible in the practices of the local inhabitants. Indeed such practices can be seen in the present day horticultural businesses of north county Dublin.

Lands, originally part of St Marys Abbey, were re-granted on the dissolution of the monasteries. but there was no urban development of any significance until the latter half of the 17th century, when with the Restoration of the British Monarchy and return of Duke of Ormond in 1666, Dublin’s modern development began.

Joseph Lynch, exhibition curator