Merrion Street
Merrion Street (/ˈmɛriːən/; Irish: Sráid Mhuirfean) is a major Georgian street on the southside of Dublin, Ireland, which runs along one side of Merrion Square. It is divided into Merrion Street Lower (north end), Merrion Square West and Merrion Street Upper (south end). It holds one entrance to the seat of the Irish parliament, the Oireachtas, major government offices, and two major cultural institutions.
 Government Buildings on Merrion Street, formerly the Royal College of Science | |
  | |
| Native name | Sráid Mhuirfean (Irish) |
|---|---|
| Namesake | Merrion Castle, seat of the Viscounts FitzWilliam |
| Length | 450 m (1,480 ft) |
| Width | 30 metres (98 ft) |
| Location | Dublin, Ireland |
| Postal code | D02 |
| Coordinates | 53°20′20″N 6°15′10″W |
| north end | Lincoln Place Fenian Street |
| south end | Merrion Row Ely Place Baggot Street Lower |
| Other | |
| Known for | Government Buildings Georgian Architecture |
Name
The term “Merrion Street” is often used as shorthand for Irish Government in the same way as Whitehall or Downing Street is used to refer to the British Government. The official Irish Government news service website is called merrionstreet.ie.[1]
Features
The garden entrance of Leinster House, formerly Kildare House, seat of a major aristocratic house, is located on the street, as is Irish Government Buildings, formerly the Royal College of Science for Ireland, and the main location of the Department of the Taoiseach and other arms of government.
Between these is the National Museum of Ireland – Natural History, and beyond Leinster House is the main entrance to the National Gallery of Ireland.
History
The street was originally lined on both sides by Georgian houses. Some reports suggest that Field Marshal The 1st Duke of Wellington was born in his family’s Mornington House on the street. The house is now a hotel.
Between 1904 and 1922, all the houses on one side of the street were demolished and replaced by the Royal College of Science for Ireland, which became Government Buildings and was designed by Sir Aston Webb. A joint press meeting was held between Enda Kenny and British Prime Minister Theresa May in Merrion Street on 30 January 2017, to discuss the implications of Brexit on Northern Ireland and Ireland.[2]
References
- "About: MerrionStreet.ie Irish Government News Service". merrionstreet.ie. 9 March 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
- "Enda Kenny and Theresa May hold joint press conference in Dublin". The Irish Times. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.