James's Street (Irish: Sráid San Séamas) is a street in the Liberties area of central Dublin, Ireland.

History

St. James's Gate, located where the modern street exists, was the western entrance to the city during the Middle Ages. During this time the gate was the traditional starting point for the Camino pilgrimage from Dublin to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia (Spain). Though the original medieval gate was demolished in 1734, the gate gave its name to the area in which it was located, and in particular to the St. James's Gate Brewery (which was taken over by Arthur Guinness in 1759).

As part of a 1966 TV special named A Little Bit of Irish, singer Bing Crosby sang amongst the keeves and vats at the Guinness Brewery in James's Street with the Guinness Choir.

Location

The street runs from approximately the steps of Cromwell's Quarters to the junction with Watling Street and Thomas Street.

Notable people

• W. T. Cosgrave (1880-1965), first president of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State, was born on James's Street
• The comedian Brendan Grace (1951-2019) lived at 2E Echlin Street, off James's Street, in the early 1960s
• Mark Sheehan (1976-2023) of the band The Script was originally from the James's Street area