Talbot House, the offices for the Department of Education, is one of a number of significant buildings. To the east, a street renewal programme has improved the area close to Connolly Station. The editorial offices of the Irish Independent newspaper have relocated to Talbot Street and the presence of a number of financial institutions such as Irish Life & Permanent Plc. and Bank of Ireland have also helped to raise the profile of the street which traditionally has not enjoyed the same level of commercial success as Henry Street to the west of nearby O'Connell Street. The vista looking east along Talbot Street is closed by the impressive edifice of Dublin Connolly Railway Station at Amiens Street with its distinctive Italianate tower at its centre. The station is named in honour of Irish Socialist leader, James Connolly, leader of the Easter Rising in 1916 when commander of the Irish Citizen Army. A statue of Connolly has also been raised in nearby Beresford Place, opposite Liberty Hall, headquarters of SIPTU, the largest trades union in Ireland. The street is a one-way street from going east to west from Amiens Street to Marlborough Street.
History
In October 1920 republican Seán Treacy of Tipperary was shot and killed outside the Republican Outfitters shop at number 94, having been spotted by British agents on clandestine patrol in the vicinity. A plaque of remembrance marks the spot and is the focus of an infrequent commemoration attended by large numbers of Tipperary people on the morning of the All-Ireland Hurling Final in years when the Tipperary team participate, thus underlying the close association of the Gaelic Athletic Association with Irish nationalism. In the 1930s, 40s and 50s there were a number of attempts to change the name of Talbot street to Seán Treacy street. In 1943, the Dublin Corporation passed a motion urging a change of name subject to the support of the majority of rentpayers on Talbot Street. However, the rentpayers of the street voted not to rename the street. Another horrific event, of even greater proportions occurred in Talbot Street on 17 May 1974 where one of three car bombs allegedly planted by the loyalistUlster Volunteer Force exploded outside a shoe shop opposite Guineys near the Lower Gardiner Street intersection, killing 13 women and one man. Nobody has been charged with the bombings, despite a campaign of nearly 40 years to find the perpetrators.
Welsh Church
No. 78 Talbot Street is the site of the former Welsh Church or Capel Betel, designed by the architect William Murray, it is now a protected structure. It was a chapel for Welsh people visiting the city, with services conducted in Welsh. Established in 1838, its ethos was Calvinistic Methodism, and was affiliated to the Anglesea circuit. The Church was often referred to as the Welch Church, Welsh Methodist Church, Welsh Orthodox Church or Welsh Presbyterian Church. An early Chaplain was Rev. William Griffiths. Rev. John Owen served as chaplain from 1885 until 1894. Rev. John Lewis was the churches minister from 1894 to 1934, he tutored the politician Ernest Blythe, who attended services to study Welsh, a snooker hall, an arcade and an Internet Cafe.
Shopping Centres
The Irish Life Shopping Mall is a small shopping centre; it has a number of shops spread around a flat shopping mall and is easily accessible from both Talbot Street and Lower Abbey Street. The Centre which is a conglomerate of retail and office space with generous underground parking has a large frontage on Talbot Street. The Car Park for the Irish Life Mall is accessible from Abbey Street, exiting onto Beresford lane and lower Gardiner street.
Retail & services
This list is not exhaustive
Guineys
O'Hanrahan Lally Solicitors
Routledge Doyle Solicitors
Bertoni Neon
Cafe Kylemore
101 Talbot Restaurant
Madigan's pub
Celtic Lodge Guesthouse-Restaurant & Bar www.celticlodge.ie
