through this characterful place of ancient origin, which has lived through interesting times. The non blow-ins have known genuine hardship, which might explain the salt and sarcastic put-downs that permeate Dublin wit and legend.

The latest loss is the 262-page Local Area Plan to transform the Liberties, which was adopted in 2009 by Dublin City Council but since seems to have had the kibosh put on it by the latest economic bust.

They are a resilient lot around here though, and today the imposing medieval Christchurch and St Patrick’s Cathedrals, and historic buildings like the 17th-century Tailors’ Hall, co-exist comfortably with bustling markets and cool cafes, Francis Street’s antique quarter, the high-end Digital Hub and the Guinness Enterprise centre for start-up tech firms.

Thrifty NCAD art students and trendy young professionalsown authority and administration.

In the 17th century, the tanning, woollen and weaving crafts were established along the Poddle river by the immigrant French Huguenots fleeing the persecution of Louis XIV, and who settled in numbers in the Coombe area and found a ready labour market locally in Pimlico and Blackpitts. A healthy export trade grew up as a result.

Three ancient highways converged to form the backbone of the Liberties: The Slighe Mor (today that’s Thomas Street and St James’s Street); the Slige Dala (now Cork Street, the Coombe and Ardee Street); and the Slighe Chualann (New Street and Francis Street).

This prime location and the Dutch and Flemish protestants who arrived later in the same century, helped to establish the area as a centre of the linen, wool and