Fishamble Street

Fishamble Street (irish place name|Sráid Sheamlas an Éisc) is a street in Dublin, within the old city walls.

The street joins Wood Quay at the Fish Slip near Fyan's Castle. It is mentioned in the 14th century as Vicus Piscariorum and as Fish Street. In 1577, Stanihurst named it as St John's Street. In 1610, some editions of Speed's map call it Fish Shambles.

The street was known as the official fish market for Dublin until the end of the 17th century, when the city markets were moved to the north bank of the Liffey.

From 1680, around about the time the fish market was moved, the General Post Office was located here and remained for 30 years.

In the 18th century, a tavern on the street, the "Bull's Head", was one of the most popular and well known establishments in Dublin, and was in demand for anniversary and celebratory dinners by the various city guilds and bodies. It also provided accommodation for assemblies of the Grand Lodge of Irish Freemasons. The Bull's Head Musical Society was also well known and undertook the building of a Music Hall which was formally opened in 1741. [cite book | title = The Liffey in Dublin | id = ISBN 0717124231 | pages = 468 | last = de Courcy | first = J.W. | date=1996 | publisher = Gill & Macmillan]

The street is famous as the site of the first performance of Handel's Messiah which took place in the aforementioned Music Hall on 13 April 1742 before an audience of approximately 700 people.

References