And other less evident architectural and decorative details are signalled by Michael to the reader such as the former branch of the National in Rathmines with its “carved tympana with an Irish harp charged shield, placed between wolfhounds rampant.” The main banks moved their headquarters out of the College Green/Dame Street area in the1960s and 1970s.
We may infer this from a comparison between identified sources of long term finance from banks, insurance funds and credit unions on the one hand, and annual estimates of capital formation in the country on the other hand. However, among financiers there is an understandable preference for real estate and distribution activity, where perceived risks are lower, and collateral security is more readily available.