Recommended Reading, February 16, 2025
DUBLIN, IRELAND (February 16, 2025) — I went shopping this week not far from Temple Bar and came across Isolde’s Tower. I had been looking for it for a while without success but happened upon it. Isolde was an Irish princess.
Isolde's Tower, a 13th-century defensive structure in Dublin, was rediscovered during the redevelopment of Temple Bar in 1993. This tower, part of the city's medieval walls, was originally built to protect against invaders coming up the River Liffey. Its remains are now preserved beneath an apartment complex on Exchange Street Lower, visible only behind railings.
The tower's name is inspired by the legend of Tristan and Isolde, a tale of tragic love. According to the story, Isolde, an Irish princess, was betrothed to an English king but fell in love with the knight Tristan due to a love potion. Wagner's opera, "Tristan und Isolde," immortalized this narrative, adding cultural depth to the tower's significance.
