The famous area in Dublin, Ireland, has been the scene of several violent attacks in recent months, with a judge even labelling it a “post-apocalyptic place” after a horrific incident last year
If you were asked where to find the priciest pint of Guinness in Ireland, most would instantly point towards Dublin’s Temple Bar.
Some locals might even label it a tourist trap but last November, one judge had much harsher words for this central area of the Irish capital, following an attack on an innocent bystander.
During her court sentencing, Pauline Codd remarked: “One wonders in terms of the atmosphere in Temple Bar because the court sees levels of violence meted out there by groups and gangs of young men.
“It seems that Temple Bar is becoming a violent post-apocalyptic place. It’s shocking to see it, that people can’t be safe down there. It makes it a no-go area for people.”
Latest horror
Since her damning statement, there have been more horrifying incidents, the latest involving an English tourist being stabbed in the chest in the Temple Bar area.
The victim was believed to have been knifed during a dispute on Saturday night before being rushed to hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
Gardai (Irish police) confirmed an arrest and stated: “Gardai and emergency services attended the scene of an incident of alleged assault, that occurred at a premises in Temple Bar, Dublin 2, on Saturday 20th September 2025 at approximately 11.15pm. A male (aged in his 20’s) was conveyed to St James’s Hospital for treatment of injuries believed to be non-life-threatening at this time.
“A male (aged in his 20’s) has been arrested in connection with the incident, and is currently detained pursuant to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, at a Garda Station in the Dublin area. Investigations are ongoing.”
Temple Bar is famous for its nightlife and in recent decades has attracted stag and hen parties from overseas. It’s also a magnet for content creators sampling the Guinness on tap in Dublin’s self-proclaimed cultural quarter.
While the mood is typically cheerful, with revellers out for a laugh, there have been several nasty incidents over the past year – with Saturday night marking just the most recent blot.
Police assault
Last December, two off-duty Garda officers were attacked around 1.30am in the vicinity, leaving one man in his 40s fighting for his life.
Reports suggested the copper sustained brain bleeding. It was believed to be an attempted mugging, with both men having attended a Christmas do before heading home in the small hours.
Simon Harris, who was Taoiseach (prime minster) at the time, branded it an “alarming and egregious attack in Temple Bar” whilst former Justice Minister Helen McEntee described what occurred as “appalling”.
Tourist’s fight for life
Only last month, an English holidaymaker in his 40s was left battling for his life following an assault in the Temple Bar district around 12.30am. The holidaymaker was in a critical condition at Beaumont Hospital after allegedly being kicked in the head during a brawl.
Just days later, a homeless 22-year-old man was charged with assault causing harm. On August 30, Garda Colin Kyne-Delaney reported that the victim remained critically ill and in an induced coma.
‘Post-apocalyptic place’
Temple Bar, the scene of the incident, was described as a “post-apocalyptic place” by a judge last year following a different violent episode.
This previous incident involved Jordan Maguire, a homeless man, who was caught on CCTV brutally attacking a man on November 1, 2022. He used a can of cider as a weapon during the assault.
Maguire, who had over 50 prior convictions including robbery and threats to kill, pleaded guilty to causing harm to the victim on Bedford Row. He was sentenced to four years in prison last year, with the final six months suspended.
Unfai
Despite the judge’s damning description of Temple Bar, Martin Harte, the chief executive of the Temple Bar Company, has defended the area, calling such comparisons unfair.
As quoted in the Irish Times, he said: “I think a lot of the criticism and the view or positioning of Temple Bar comes from the late 1990s and early Noughties and that massive, mad drink culture. It was true then, there were queues outside every pub and hotel; it certainly isn’t true now.”
In a more positive light, he added: “Certainly in last couple of years the vintage clothes shops are back, the tattoo parlours, the cafes, the cultural collectives, the private galleries – they’ve really come back.
“Of course some have been lost, but a huge amount have come, and Temple Bar has a thriving cultural scene. I think it’s probably going to get closer to what people thought it might be in the first place. I think its best years are ahead of it.”