Digges Lane, where Today FM's Marconi House now stands, was initially known as Beaux Lane.
It's current name recognises a forebear of the Dublin MP David La
Touche (1729-1817), and of the Smock Alley actor West Digges (1720-1786), more on whom a little
later.
The Theatrical Tradition
The area around Digges Lane, although having had an unsavory reputation in the 18th Century (the name Bow Lane
is derived from the original name Beaux Walk, being a favoured walk for
gentlemen not unlike the red light district in Paris), has a theatrical background. This is indicated by the
naming of Drury Street (formerly Little Butter Lane) after it's London counterpart Drury Lane, home of the Theatre Royal and heart of the West End.
In the 18th Century, Dublin was often referred to as
“another London” and was said to be the fifth largest capital in Europe.
Consequently Dublin was a nursing ground for aspiring theatrical
talent and it was typical for those who aspired to the English Stage to serve
their 
apprenticeship in Ireland.
Madame Violante, an Italian woman who had an entertainment Booth in Dublin, would train groups of children for a
performance of the beggars opera. From this group of youngsters, Peg
Woffington, daughter of a Dublin fruit seller, was introduced to drama and would go on
to become a famous actress and sharp wit, receiving
overwhelming acclaim in British productions.
I Predict A Riot
Madame Violante's theatre (despite lacking a royal patent and therefore "illegitimate") was a serious rival for the renowned Smock Alley Theatre run by Thomas Sheridan. Irish audiences were known for a lively participation in performances, and Sheridan had implored the actors and actresses of Smock Alley not to entice the public, arguing that
many people had volatile political opinion, and reacted strongly to
certain parts of the performances.
West Digges, an actor who first came to fame in Dublin, was starring in a production in Smock Alley alongside Peg Woffindton in March 1754, and as a protest against Sheridan's instructions, he refused to repeat
popular lines for the audience. This resulted in a serious riot where the ladies were
asked to withdraw and the gentlemen of the audience proceeded to
demolish
the theatre. The place would surely have been burnt to the ground but
for the courage of the servant who evicted the angry mob.
Modern Day
The connection of Digges Lane with the world of entertainment continues right through to modern day. From 1990 the Digges Lane Dance Centre and The Irish College Of Dance could be found here and today, of course, it houses your favourite national radio station, Today FM.
The Other Digges
At the turn of the 18th Century, David Digues de La Touche founded a fabric manufacturing business in Castle Street which became a gathering-place for fellow Huguenots. His business soon found itself safe-gaurding money and valuables for Hugeunot families travelling outside the capital. Some of this money would be advanced as loans at reasonable rates of interest, and so the La Touche Bank was born.
This bank was in such a strong position in 1778 that it could lend the government the sum of £20,000 to buy provisions for the army. When the Bank of Ireland was founded by Royal Charter in 1783, David Digges La Touche III, grandson of the original settler became it's first governor. He also became a Member Of Parliament and the present site of Marconi House once served as La Touche's city gardens.
The La Touches became strongly linked with the Dublin city with street names Mercer, D'Olier, Fumbally and, of course, Digges all bearing connections to the family..
The area around Digges Lane at the turn of the 19th Century and today.