Leeson Street

Leeson Street (/ˈliːsən/; Irish: Sráid Líosain) is a thoroughfare near central Dublin, Ireland. The street is divided into two parts by the Grand Canal: Lower Leeson Street, in Dublin 2 is to the north of the canal, linking to St Stephen's Green, with Upper Leeson Street, in the Dublin 4 region, south of the canal. Originally known as Suesey Street, it was renamed in 1728 after the Leesons, a family of local brewers, who branched into property development and subsequently became Earls of Milltown. In 1767 a Magdalen Asylum was established by Lady Arabella Denny in the street for Protestant women.[1]

Leeson Street

Lower Leeson Street
Native name	Sráid Líosain  (Irish)
Namesake	Joseph Leeson, 1st Earl of Milltown
Length	1.3 km (0.8 mi)
Width	23 metres (75 ft)
Location	Dublin, Ireland
Postal code	D02, D04
Coordinates	53°20′00″N 6°15′16″W
northwest end	St. Stephen's Green (southeast corner), Earlsfort Terrace
southeast end	Morehampton Road
Other
Known for	prostitution, cafés, Catholic University School, Institute of Education

Triumphal arch erected on Leeson Street Bridge for the visit of Edward VII to Dublin in 1903

The street is home to several prominent buildings including the main office of the Ombudsman and the embassies of Portugal, Malta, and Cyprus.[2] The largest building on Lower Leeson Street, along with several adjoining buildings and significant land holdings in the area, is owned by the Catholic University School.

In 1990, Caravaggio's lost masterpiece, The Taking of Christ, was recognised in the residence of the Jesuit Communication Centre on Lower Leeson Street.[3][4] Broadcaster Gerry Ryan lived and died on this street.[5]

Leeson Street is a notorious red-light district, and has been since the 18th century, when the first Magdalene Asylum opened on the street for "penitent" prostitutes.[6][7] There were formerly large numbers of streetwalkers but prostitution in Ireland has moved online in recent years.[8][9][10][11][12]