Marlborough Street

24 January 2015 — The 50^th anniversary of the death of Sir Winston Churchill, British war time Prime Minister and one of the most famous and influential politicians of the 20^th Century. What is the link between Marlborough Street, Dublin and Sir Winston Churchill?
Churchill actually lived in the Phoenix Park in Dublin as a child from the age of 2 to 6. His grandfather The Duke of Marlborough, had been appointed Viceroy of Ireland. The Viceroy was then the regal official who ran the country in the name of the monarch. Churchill’s father was the Private Secretary to the Viceroy. It was at this time that Marlborough Street got its name.
It is believed that the young Churchill first developed a fascination with military matters from watching the many parades passing the Vice Regal Lodge in the Phoenix Park. The Vice Regal Lodge is now called Aras an Uachtaran and in modern times has become the official residence of the President of Ireland. Churchill’s also began his education in Dublin, where a governess became his teacher. Biographies of Churchill report that he spent many happy hours playing in the green fields of the Phoenix Park.
After his early years in Ireland, Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-​Churchill went on to become Prime Minister of his country in 1940, serving until 1945. He had a second term of office from 1951 – 55

Lived there for a year 5 years ago, moved because of work, great central place to live, never had any trouble, Nathan J. there’s a couple of snobs on this site who despise any area with working class people in it so I’d ignore their ratings.

Ouch! But I agree with you Cathal, Marlborough Street is one of Dublin’s less savoury addresses.
It is a sad reflection of the times that people see fit to bring their children up in areas like these. It’s definitely one to avoid if you can, and don’t bring tourists here, it’s really not pretty.
I try to avoid the area at all costs (and there is no way I would find myself in this street after dark) and all you Northside bus catchers out there — get off at Talbot St if you are really concerned (it’s a slight improvement on Marlborough).
The one redeeming grace of Marlborough St is it’s host to Ireland’s National Theatre, the Abbey. Strange that such an establishment has been plonked in the middle of one of Dublin’s worst areas… but I guess it’s these little eccentricities that bring us the Dublin we know and love…

Though running parallel with O’Connell St, Dublin’s main thoroughfare, Marlborough St would not be counted as one of Dublin’s main streets.
And there isn’t that much to it. There’s the Department of Education buildings, and St. Mary’s Pro-​Cathedral. Apart from that, one of Marlborough St’s few claims to fame is that it boasts one of the few remaining pawn shops in Dublin (there’s another in Smithfield as well). A lot of the other buildings along the street are derelict.
I walk along Marlborough St every time that I get the bus into town, as it is one of the main bus termini for the northside of Dublin. And there must be something about bus termini generally because the one in Marlborough St is junkie central. Whenever I have people from abroad staying with me, I always cringe when I have to walk them past all the gear heads and winos when we’re getting off the bus.
So, Marlborough St is very unpleasant and one to avoid if at all possible… though if you live in north-​east Dublin, Marlborough St is impossible to avoid, and you also probably have to put up with its sqaulid surroundings everyday. I empathise completely.