St Mary del Dam | Dublin

Overview

St Mary del Dam was a medieval parish church that once stood in the heart of Dublin, close to where City Hall now rises on Dame Street. Though the building was demolished in the 17th century, its legacy lives on in the street name, the nearby Royal Exchange (now the Dublin Stock Exchange), and the rich stories that echo through the cobbled lanes of the Temple Bar district.

Name and the River Poddle

The name Dame (Irish: Sráid an Dáma) derives from the church’s title. The word Dam refers to a small dam that once spanned the River Poddle, a tributary that still runs deep beneath Dame Street and eventually joins the River Liffey. The dam supplied water power for medieval mills, and its presence gave the parish its distinctive name – a fact highlighted by the Mercantile Hotel’s history of the street.

History & Context

Bruce invasion (1317)

During the 1317 Bruce invasion, Dublin’s defenders partially demolished St Mary del Dam to reuse its stone for fortifications around Dublin Castle. The church’s walls were stripped to reinforce the city’s walls, a reminder of how the site was caught up in the wider conflict between the English administration and the invading Scottish forces.

Dame’s‑gate

A side‑street called Dame’s‑gate (also recorded as the gate of St Mary) ran alongside the church. First mentioned in 1552, it was removed in 1698 as the city’s street pattern was regularised.

Parish merger

In 1559 the parish of St Mary del Dam was formally merged with that of St Werburgh’s Church, making St Werburgh’s the parish church for Dublin Castle. This merger is recorded in the history of St Werburgh’s and explains why the former parish vanished from the city’s ecclesiastical map.

Later development

After the Reformation the site passed to Sir Maurice Eustace, Lord Chancellor of Ireland (1660‑1665), who built his townhouse, Damask, on the former church grounds. In the early 1600s Richard Boyle, Earl of Cork, erected Cork House on the same plot, lending the short street that links Lord Edward Street and Dame Street the name Cork Hill.

The 18th‑century Wide Street Commissioners reshaped the area: Cork House was demolished in 1768 to make way for the new Royal Exchange, whose foundation stone was laid on 2 August 1769. The Commissioners also proposed a grand “Royal Mile” linking Dublin Castle to the Parliament building, and a never‑realised Bedford Square south of Cork Hill.

Later additions include the Central Bank of Ireland (1975), which famously exceeded its planning height – a matter debated in the Oireachtas – and the Occupy Dame Street protest that occupied the bank’s forecourt from October 2011 to March 2012.

Archaeology & Remnants

Although no standing structure remains, the site is marked by the 1769 foundation stone of the Royal Exchange, visible on the façade of the former exchange building (now the Dublin Stock Exchange). Dublin City Council heritage‑trail maps highlight the exact footprint of St Mary del Dam, and the Central Bank Visitor Centre offers a modern interpretation of the area’s layered history.

Seeing the Site Today

1769 foundation stone – Look for the carved stone on the lower right of the Royal Exchange façade; it bears the date and commemorates the building that replaced the church.
Central Bank Visitor Centre – Free entry displays interactive panels that reconstruct the medieval parish, the River Poddle dam and the later Georgian development.
Interpretive plaques – Along Dame Street and Dame Lane you’ll find brief signs explaining the origin of the street name and the location of the former church.

Walking the Area

The former site of St Mary del Dam is a natural waypoint for history‑hungry walkers. A suggested route:

Start at Dublin City Hall opposite the church’s footprint and view the 1769 foundation stone on the Royal Exchange.
Walk down Dame Lane, named after the church, and imagine the medieval lanes that once criss‑crossed the area. The lane is part of the Dubline walking trail, which links College Green to Kilmainham.
Turn onto Cork Hill, the short dog‑leg that once housed Richard Boyle’s Cork House. A plaque near the City Hall Plaza marks the spot.
Peek into the former location of Lucas’s Coffee House and the Eagle Tavern, once bustling 18th‑century haunts on Cork Hill.
Continue to Christ Church Cathedral (3 min) to see where the 1487 coronation procession passed.
End at the Chester Beatty Library (5 min) for a cultural finish.

The walk is under 15 minutes and showcases the layered urban fabric from medieval parish to Georgian commerce.

Nearby Historical Highlights

Cork Hill – The name survives as a short street linking Lord Edward Street and Dame Street; it marks the site of the former Cork House and, before that, St Mary del Dam.
Wide Street Commissioners’ plans – 18th‑century maps (Rocque, 1756‑57) show a proposed Bedford Square and a statue of George I that never materialised. Copies of these maps are on display at the Dublin City Archives.
Dame’s‑gate – Though the gate vanished in 1698, its former line can be traced on the pavement of Dame Street near the City Hall entrance.
Mercantile Hotel – Located at 28 Dame Street, the hotel incorporates the street’s history into its décor; it’s a convenient spot for a coffee break while exploring the area.

Practical Information

Location & Coordinates – The former site lies at 53.343847 N, ‑6.263883 W, on the south side of Dame Street, opposite City Hall.

Getting There – Public transport is abundant:

Bus – Parliament Street (lines 79, 79A) and Lord Edward Street (line 49) are a two‑minute walk.
Luas – Jervis stop (Red Line) is a seven‑minute walk; the next Red Line stop is nine minutes away.
Train – Tara Street station is a fifteen‑minute walk; Dublin Pearse is twenty minutes on foot.

Parking – No dedicated car park exists on Dame Street. Visitors are advised to use nearby public car parks such as the St Andrew’s Street car park, the City Hall Plaza parking area, or the underground car park at George’s Street Arcade.

Accessibility – The streets are level and wheelchair‑friendly, though some historic cobbles on Dame Lane can be uneven.

Nearby Amenities – Cafés, restaurants and public restrooms are plentiful around City Hall Plaza. Free Wi‑Fi is available in most cafés. The Mercantile Hotel’s Café 28 offers a comfortable spot for a break.

Tips for Visitors – Bring a close‑up camera for the foundation stone; the site is best seen in daylight when the stone’s inscription is legible. If you enjoy maps, pick up a copy of Rocque’s 1757 plan at the Dublin City Library to visualise the lost streets.

What to See & Do

Although no physical structure remains, the location is a compelling waypoint for history‑hungry walkers. Stand on Dame Street opposite City Hall and imagine the stone walls of St Mary del Dam that once framed the street. The Royal Exchange, now the Dublin Stock Exchange, still bears the 1769 foundation stone—a tangible reminder of the site’s transformation from sacred to commercial.

The surrounding area is dense with attractions:

Attraction	Distance	Note
Dublin Castle	2 min walk	Historic seat of English power
Christ Church Cathedral	3 min walk	Site of the 1487 coronation procession
City Hall	1 min walk	Georgian civic building
The Stag’s Head pub	2 min walk	Victorian interior, literary connections
Chester Beatty Library	5 min walk	World‑class manuscript collection
All Hallows Monastery	7 min walk	Nearby medieval priory referenced in Bruce‑invasion accounts
Central Bank Visitor Centre	1 min walk	Interactive history of the site

A short stroll down Dame Lane, named after the church, reveals the layered urban fabric of medieval lanes, 18th‑century market remnants, and the modern “Dame District” of cafés and boutiques.