To uncover the history of a certain district, street names can be our best indicator. Nowhere is this more evident than in one of my favourite parts of the city. Fenian St/Pearse St. The original names and those renamed later it charters the flow and tide of Irish history.

It reflects a political change in Irish society following the rebellion of 1916 and the War of Independence. The rate payers of Great Brunswick Street would cast of the Duchy of Brunswick and replace it with local boy Patrick Pearse.

Their enthusiasm for the eradication of earlier street names was not matched anywhere in the city. During the 1920s its rate payers vote with great vigour. While there was resistance to this in other parts of the city.

For example: Earl St and Talbot St proposed Brian Boru St was shot down. But Townsend St rate payers voted for Townsend St to be named James Connolly St. This did not go ahead as the poverty stricken street was deemed unworthy of his name.

Denzille St and some smaller streets were renamed Fenian St. https://twitter.com/rea_esten/status/1082754060787302400?s=19 Originally named for Denzill Holles (Holles St). The first Earl of Clare (Clare St). One of the five men King Charles l tried to arrest in the Common House.

Holles kept a keen eye on Irish affairs and deeply apposed the toleration of Catholics.
Nearby Wentworth Pl named for Governor of Ireland (1632) Thomas (Black Tom) Wentworth. Remembered for land confiscation which through into jeopardy the rights of catholic land owners.

It was renamed for the nationalist sculptor John Hogan. https://twitter.com/rea_esten/status/1089622970383908864?s=19

Great Clarence Street named for the future William IV. A man remembered in Ireland for his relationship with Anglo-Irish actress Dorothea (Jordan) Bland who he had ten children by and his firm defence of the slave trade.

This street was renamed after Irish trade unionist and revolutionary Peader Macken. Educated at Westland Row he was shot dead by a fellow Volunteer at Bolands Mill.

Queen Square (Pearse Square) would also become apart of this (1924). Other streets Boyne St (Battle of Boyne) Cumberland St (2nd Duke Cumberland) retained there original name and Park St was renamed in honour of Abraham Lincoln (Lincoln Pl).