It is also marked by a spectacular 19th century railway bridge across the river, which was part of the ‘Harcourt Street Line’ which ran from Harcourt street to Bray. The bridge was recently re-opened for the Luas light rail system which runs from St. Stephen’s Green to Sandyford. This bridge, and sometimes the area immediately surrounding it became known informally as the ‘Nine Arches’. Milltown railway station opened on 1 May 1860 and finally closed on 1 January 1959.

The Icon Factory is an Artist’s Co-operative based in Temple Bar.

Artists are invited to produce art based on Irish Icons such as writers, musicians, sports figures and others of cultural importance. The art thus produced is presented to the public by the Icon factory.

Below is a quote from the organizers:

Raison d’ etre.

"The driving force behind this cooperative effort grew from the realization that the culture had changed and for many of us that meant that we were on our own. It seemed to us that a seismic systemic failure across the entire landscape had occurred and that our former leaders, those who had taken us to this place were the last ones likely to get us out of the mess. No point in waiting for things to get better, they won’t, so have some fun. We were without funds but we still had our wits, so we pooled our treasure, our energy, and embraced our future rather than wait for the past to resurrect itself. Was it not an illusion anyway?"

Back in the day you were born with original sin. Now it’s original debt. Every man, woman and child in this country is footing’ the bill for a load of empty buildings. if it was france there’d be bleeding’ murder.

Where’s my NAMA? You know what I mean? I worked on the sites round here and when I got laid off I still had to pay me mortgage every month. But we’re bailing these boys out. I don’t get it.

The middle to the end of the sixties saw the dyin’ end of the docks it just slowly went down. If any of the old dockers came back today and looked down from Butt bridge they’d call you a liar. They’d go that’s not where I worked.