Left Bank - Former Bank of Ireland Building
Open to the public 7 days
per week
Monday - Thursday 12 Noon - 11.30pm
Friday - Saturday 12 Noon - 12.30am
Sunday - 12.30pm - 11pm
Closed - Good Friday & Christmas Day
Architectural Landmark of Significant Interest
Left Bank, former Bank of Ireland was constructed in 1870 to a
design by Sandham Symes. The Building was a purpose-built bank and
facilitated the relocation of the Bank of Ireland from No. 10, The
Parade, which it occupied from 1835 to 1871.
The prominence of the
building is increased by Sandham Symes’s decision to
orientate its front façade on the perpendicular to The
Parade so as to face north-west down High Street. As a consequence, the
building terminates the east end of High Street and formally turns the
corner onto The Parade.
The principal façades are of cut
limestone. The north-west (front) façade comprises a three
– storey, five-bay, block with a large central portico.
The
importance of the ground floor is accentuated by rustication on the
portico columns, quoin stone, and in panels under the window. There are
curved corner bays either side of the façade. The side
façade (onto The Parade) continues the formal composition of
the front façade without the more elaborate rustication.
The primary access to the upper floors of the building was the door in
the south- west (curved) corner. Typically the upper floors in such
banks were used as residential accommodation for the bank manager,
which in recent years had been let to a firm of accountants.
May
2008 saw the opening of, Left Bank, former Bank of Ireland Branch, with
a beautifully designed main bar on its ground floor. In June 2009 the
upper floors of the building opened, transforming the former offices
units of Bank of Ireland, to a stunning and elegant bar with
transfixing views of the surrounding city.
If you would like to know more about other land marks in Ireland please visit the following links:
