The street, on the Southside of the city, was developed from a laneway in the early 1700s, and its line was shaped by the now-culverted River Steyne.

During the 20th century, it became known for the coffee house Bewley's, mid- and up-market shopping, and as a popular spot for buskers.

[6] Four years later, the city's governing body, Dublin Corporation, approved development along the street in order to make a "crown causeway".

[9] The theatre manager Louis Du Val lived in Grafton Street in 1733, as did the novelist Charles Robert Maturin's family.

"[8] During the late 19th century, a number of retail properties were built and several long-standing businesses established their presence on the street, such as the department stores Switzer's and Brown Thomas.

Despite complaints that the street was "impassable to virtuous women", Dublin tourist guides continued to mention it as a fashionable place to visit.

In 1911, King George V and Queen Mary were led in a procession down Grafton Street which attracted thousands of onlookers.

This was followed by the opening of a number of other UK high-street businesses in the 1980s including HMV, Next, River Island, Miss Selfridge,[11] and Marks & Spencer.

[10] Objections to pedestrianisation came from councillors and small business owners, who alleged that it would lead to an increase in petty crime and antisocial behaviour.

Altogether, this activity has resulted in a mixture of periods and styles, with few notable interiors or street surfaces extant.

75 Grafton Street in 1758, by Samuel Whyte, first cousin-in-law of the actor and impresario Thomas Sheridan.

Students included Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Robert Emmet, Thomas Moore and Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington.

[19] Bewley's Oriental Café opened on Grafton Street in 1927, on the site of Whyte's Academy,[19][28] and became a popular place to gather and socialise.

[33][34] The northern end of the street was for many years the location of the Molly Malone statue, a well-known tourist attraction and meeting place.

In 2019, a planned "Nollaig Shona Duit" (Irish for "Happy Christmas") light display was cancelled and replaced with "Grafton Quarter" signage, causing controversy.

[42][43] This was portrayed in the opening scene of the 2007 film Once, starring Glen Hansard of the Frames, a former Grafton Street busker.

[41][45] Grafton Street has been the traditional home of the "big busk" on Christmas Eve, which aims to raise money for homeless charities.