O'Connell Street

Dublin's grandest avenue, O'Connell Street, runs north from the River Liffey for 500 meters. It is often said to be the widest city street in Europe, and has been described as a more intimate version of the majestic Champs Élysées in Paris. A monument to Daniel O'Connell stands at the southern foot of the street, and today a statue to Charles Stewart Parnell marks the north end, though at the time represented in the novel only a foundation stone had been laid. Other statues of historically important figures line the route between these two termini. South of the river and bending west, other streets continue the grand central thoroughfare of Dublin.

John Hunt 2015

Early photograph of the O'Connell monument, date unknown, showing Nelson's pillar in the background. Source: www.libraryireland.com.

Present-day photograph of the O'Connell monument at the foot of O'Connell Street Lower, just north of the O'Connell bridge. Source: Gareth Collins.

Dublin's grand central thoroughfare (outlined in aqua) with locations of the Parnell monument (blue arrow), the O'Connell monument (green), the former Irish Parliament (red), and City Hall and Dublin Castle (orange), on a schematic map drawn by Leo Knuth. Source: Hart and Knuth, A Topographical Guide.