Molesworth Street, Dublin

A street scene on Molesworth Street, Dublin. Leinster House is partially visible in the background.

Molesworth Street (Irish: Sráid Theach Laighean) links the more notable Dawson Street with Kildare Street. Both houses of the Oireachtas are located in Leinster House, Kildare Street (adjacent to Molesworth Street).

Molesworth Street is named after Richard Molesworth, 3rd Viscount Molesworth. and was originally known as "Molesworth Fields". Acknowledged as the first adaption of Early English style to street architecture in the city of Dublin^[1]

One of the most important building is Freemasons' Hall, home of the Grand Lodge of Ireland designed by the architect Edward Holmes of Birmingham and completed in 1866 on the site of the townhouse of the first grandmaster, the Earl of Rosse.^[2]

Some government offices, such as the Passport office and the Government Publications Sales Office are also found on this street.

In 1857, numbers 38–44 of the street were the site of the building of the St Anne's Schools, replacing what had previously been a terrace of Queen Anne houses (demolished some time before 1843). The building's foundation stone was laid on 1857-03-07. Designed by architects Deane and Woodward, it was a freestanding building that was separated from number 45, comprising the earliest adaptation of Early English architectural style in Dublin. Built of Portland, Calp, and Caen stone, with red brick, the building had horizontal bands of contrasting materials, which was very much the architectural fashion of the time. It was later demolished in 1978.^[3]

Buswells Hotel on Molesworth Street, Dublin

Buswells Hotel, which comprises three adjoining Georgian buildings, is frequented by politicians due to its proximity to Irish government buildings.^[4][5]

See also

• List of streets and squares in Dublin

References

1. Frederick O'Dwyer (June 1997). The Architecture of Deane and Woodward. Cork University Press. p. 493. ISBN 0-902561-85-5.
2. Masonic Lodge, Molesworth Street, Dublin - Archiseek.com – Paul Clekin
3. Frederick O'Dwyer (1997). The Architecture of Deane and Woodward. Cork University Press. pp. 493–494. ISBN 978-0-902-56185-4.
4. Gray, Paul; Wallis, Geoff (2011). The Rough Guide to Ireland. London: Rough Guides. p. 145. ISBN 978-1-84836-436-3.
5. Frommer's Ireland. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. 2012. p. 116. ISBN 978-1-118-02765-3.

Further reading

• John Thomas Gilbert (1861). "Molesworth Street". A history of the city of Dublin III. Dublin: James Duffy. pp. 250–275.
• Christine Casey (2005). "Molesworth Street". Dublin. Yale University Press. pp. 530–531. ISBN 9780300109238.

External links

• Archiseek.com - Molesworth Street
• Archiseek.com - Grand Masonic Hall
• Archiseek.com - Molesworth Hall
• Official site of The Molesworth Gallery

Coordinates: 53°20′27.99″N 6°15′24.54″W / 53.3411083°N 6.2568167°W