Photo #8: forgotten temple
This particular structure can be found on Dublin’s Sean MacDermott Street. It is a façade only – whatever building it fronted has long disappeared. However, what is left strikes me as curious, not least because of its location: the classical Greek structure sits in one of Dublin’s deprived areas. I believe it was once an evangelical church of some kind, but I am not sure. Maybe a reader knows?
Tags: Sean MacDermott Street
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University Blog 
August 10, 2010 at 1:25 am
Some discussion here
http://www.archiseek.com/content/showthread.php?t=5005
Presbyterian church designed by “Duncan C Ferguson in 1845/6 and ‘closed within several decades of completion’ (Pevsner Architectural Guides – Dublin; Yale UP 2005, p.137), being then used as a grainstore. The Presbyterian use of the Doric order probably refers back to their Scottish origins – bluff northern types, not like the effete (Ionic) southerners. (‘Doric’ is used as another name for the Scots (Lowland) language.)” (archiseek comment by johnglas)
August 10, 2010 at 1:36 pm
Thanks for that info Conor – like FvP, I’ve noticed this place many times over the years, and haven often wondered what it was. I did wonder if there had been some Freemasonry involved, given the architectural style…
August 10, 2010 at 6:42 pm
Following your tangent….yes but the term Doric is largely now used for mid-Northern Scots rather than more generic lowland Scots. references to the Dorian speech of Sparta and thereabouts and derogatory term used by the English and speakers of southern English to refer to rustic, rural types and their lingo!
It’s a while since I’ve spoken Scots. Tend to use Gaidhlig more, but it is a lovely language, lyrical and rich for poetry and full of evocative, descriptive sayings and words with an amazing multi-lingual vocabulary.
August 10, 2010 at 6:52 am
Not a clue. The only way anyone free from outside the Pale might find themselves there would be if they blundered when leaving Croke Park.
But this might help.
http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,716156,735041,7