Leeson Street (/ˈliːsən/; Irish: Sráid Líosain) is a thoroughfare near central Dublin, Ireland.

Quick Facts Native name, Namesake ...

Leeson Street

Lower Leeson Street
Native name	Sráid Líosain (Irish)
Namesake	Joseph Leeson, 1st Earl of Milltown
Length	1.3 km (0.81 mi)
Width	23 metres (75 ft)
Location	Dublin, Ireland
Postal code	D02, D04
Coordinates	53°20′00″N 6°15′16″W
northwest end	St. Stephen's Green (southeast corner), Earlsfort Terrace
southeast end	Morehampton Road
Other
Website	ombudsman.ie

Close

The street is divided into two parts by the Grand Canal: Lower Leeson Street, in Dublin 2 is to the north of the canal, linking to St Stephen's Green, with Upper Leeson Street, in the Dublin 4 region, south of the canal.^[1]

Originally known as Suesy Street, it was renamed in 1728 after the Leesons, a family of local brewers, who branched into property development and subsequently became Earls of Milltown.^[1][2] In 1769 a Magdalen Asylum was established by Lady Arabella Denny in the street for Protestant women.^[3]

The street is home to several prominent buildings including the main office of the Ombudsman^[4] and the embassies of Portugal, Malta, Palestine and Cyprus.^{[citation needed]} The largest building on Lower Leeson Street, along with several adjoining buildings and significant land holdings in the area, is owned by the Catholic University School.

In 1990, Caravaggio's lost masterpiece, The Taking of Christ, was recognised in the residence of the Jesuit Communication Centre on Lower Leeson Street.^[5][6] Broadcaster Gerry Ryan lived and died on this street.^[7]

There were formerly streetwalkers along the canal district in Dublin.^[8]

• Lower Leeson Street junction with Earlsfort Terrace and St Stephen's Green
• Bus lane on Lower Leeson Street
• Upper Leeson Street
• Upper Leeson Street
• Grand Canal at Leeson Street Bridge
• Iveagh House, adjacent to Lower Leeson Street
• Triumphal arch erected on Leeson Street Bridge for the visit of Edward VII to Dublin in 1903

• Georgian Dublin
• Joseph Leeson, 1st Earl of Milltown
• List of streets and squares in Dublin