Ballsbridge Then & Now

Ballsbridge, the ‘embassy belt’ at the leafy heart of South Dublin, is home to Royal Dublin Society (RDS), the British and American embassies, the Aviva Stadium, and an array of the Great Houses of Ireland. Ailesbury Road and Shrewsbury Road have long been the most-expensive streets in the country, and in 2007, Shrewsbury Road had the dubious honour of being the sixth most expensive street in the world. Aside from the area’s conspicuous grandeur, it is also steeped in history. Herbert Park was the site of the visit of King George V, the last monarch to visit Ireland until Queen Elizabeth II in 2011, and throughout its wide streets are statues and mementos of the great moments of the Irish state. This book captures the changing face of the one of the most striking parts of all Ireland.