St. Andrew’s

Was this very spot once a bustling bowling green? Right here on St. Andrew’s Street, where the grand St. Andrew’s Church now stands, history has played quite the game. The original St. Andrew’s Church actually graced Dame Street. Sadly, it vanished during Oliver Cromwell’s reign in the 17th century, swallowed by the tumultuous tides of time. But fret not, for in its place arose a newer, grander St. Andrew’s. Around 1670, construction began on a new church on this very spot, a stone’s throw from the historic Thingmote, the old meeting place of Dublin’s Viking rulers. This “round church,” as it came to be known, even earned the patronage of local bigwigs like Lord Anglesey and John Temple. They say its unique elliptical design was the brainchild of the architect William Dodson. Yet, even this grand structure couldn’t outrun the cruel hand of fate. Fire ravaged St. Andrew’s in 1860, leaving behind only ashes and memories. But from these ashes rose the St. Andrew’s you see today, rebuilt in the elegant Gothic style around 1862. As you gaze upon its intricate facade, remember that beneath its beauty lies a tapestry of history, woven with resilience and the enduring spirit of Dublin.