Molesworth Street (Irish: Sráid Theach Laighean) links the more notable Dawson Street with Kildare Street. Both houses of the Oireachtas are located in Leinster House, Kildare Street (adjacent to Molesworth Street).
Molesworth Street is named after Richard Molesworth, 3rd Viscount Molesworth. and was originally known as "Molesworth Fields". Acknowledged as the first adaption of Early English style to street architecture in the city of Dublin[1]
One of the most important building is Freemasons' Hall, home of the Grand Lodge of Ireland designed by the architect Edward Holmes of Birmingham and completed in 1866 on the site of the townhouse of the first grandmaster, the Earl of Rosse.[2]
Some government offices, such as the Passport office and the Government Publications Sales Office are also found on this street.
In 1857, numbers 38–44 of the street were the site of the building of the St Anne's Schools, replacing what had previously been a terrace of Queen Anne houses (demolished some time before 1843). The building's foundation stone was laid on 1857-03-07. Designed by architects Deane and Woodward, it was a freestanding building that was separated from number 45, comprising the earliest adaptation of Early English architectural style in Dublin. Built of Portland, Calp, and Caen stone, with red brick, the building had horizontal bands of contrasting materials, which was very much the architectural fashion of the time. It was later demolished in 1978.[3]