Women’s Lives Hidden in Buildings: A Walking Tour

Step back in time on this walking tour through Dublin’s lesser-known streets, shedding light on the lives of women who lived, worked, and struggled in the city. Beginning on Henrietta Street, Dublin’s first Georgian Street, we’ll explore the grandeur of 18th-century mansions and reflect on the city’s wealth before the Irish Parliament closed in 1801.

From the decline of these once-opulent homes to the rise of communal living in Tenements, convents, and solicitors offices, we’ll uncover stories of hardship, resilience, and survival, such as bath time for 10 with no plumbing. The tour will take us through sites such as the Green Street Courthouse—where justice was swift and often brutal in a time before modern forensic methods—and then see New Gate Gaol now a playground. See where executions happened just beside the statue of Erin.

The historic Dublin Fruit and Vegetable Markets, built in 1892, where many women worked under harsh conditions. We’ll cross the River Liffey to explore Fishamble Street, did Molly Malone get her cockles & muscles here? Then visit City Hall, a striking classical building that once symbolized the power of Dublin’s merchants. This tour highlights the overlooked and often untold history of women in Dublin, emerging from domestic spaces to brief glimpse in public life, and how these shaped the city’s identity.