Dublin city promenading, one of the old decencies whose passing I regret vaguely, has largely vanished with the advert of the motor car. It is true that there is still the "Grafton street parade" in the morning, but the real promenade, that of the evening, is now a thing of the past.
In no other way are the city's changes so clearly shown as when we regard the fashionable promenades of the eighteenth century. St. James street was exceedingly popular, since the celebrated fountain was surrounded by pleasant, green walks.
The most fashionable, however, was the "Strand," which, according to a contemporary description, "in bright and serene weather gives a delightful prospect by the sailing inwards and outwards of shipping." This promenade was an eighteenth century Blackpool; for here were carried on cudgelling, boxing, wrestling, bull-baiting, cockfighting, fishing, fowling, plays, concerts and dances, all mingled together in an indescribable hurly-burly.
The Irish Times, April 6th, 1931.