Fusiliers' Arch

Fusiliers’ Arch stands at the Grafton Street entrance to St Stephen’s Green in Dublin. This granite memorial, modelled on the Arch of Titus in Rome, commemorates Royal Dublin Fusiliers who fought in the Second Boer War. Pause beneath the arch to read the names inscribed there, then continue into the park or along Grafton Street. Its location makes it a useful meeting point and a natural start to exploring both. The memorial also recalls Ireland’s complicated history with British rule and military service.

A memorial at the park entrance

Fusiliers’ Arch marks the Grafton Street entrance to St Stephen’s Green. The granite gateway is modelled on the Arch of Titus in Rome, giving the entrance a Roman-inspired form. It was erected in 1907 as a memorial to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers who fought in the Second Boer War, from 1899 to 1902.

The names of those who died are inscribed beneath the arch. Take a moment to read them before passing into the park. The memorial is a compact stop, and its position makes it easy to include on a walk between St Stephen’s Green and Grafton Street.

Remembering the Boer War

The arch commemorates Irish soldiers who fought for Britain in the Second Boer War. That history has carried political weight in Ireland: some nationalists objected to Irish participation in a British war, and the arch was once called “Traitors’ Gate.” Its present role as a familiar city meeting point sits alongside that more difficult history.

Approach the memorial as a place of remembrance. The inscriptions offer a direct point of focus, while the arch’s location connects the story to one of Dublin’s busiest streets and a public park.