Merrion Square Park

Merrion Square Park sits inside one of Dublin’s Georgian squares, surrounded by red-brick townhouses and cultural institutions. Follow the paths past flower beds, mature trees and sculptures, including Danny Osborne’s reclining portrait of Oscar Wilde, made with semi-precious stones. The park also has a memorial to the Irish Defence Forces and a children’s playground inspired by Wilde’s story “The Selfish Giant.” It’s a calm green stop near the National Gallery of Ireland and the Natural History Museum, with historic architecture to see around the square as well as within the gardens.

A Georgian square and its gardens

Merrion Square was laid out in the Georgian era as part of the Pembroke Estate. Its garden was once a private park for the residents of the surrounding houses. The square remains framed by Georgian buildings, including red-brick terraces, and a walk around its perimeter passes plaques marking notable former residents.

The park’s paths lead through lawns, trees, flower beds and sculptures. Look out for hydrangeas, wildflowers and oak trees, as well as the Irish Defence Forces Memorial. A playground draws on Oscar Wilde’s story “The Selfish Giant.”

Art around the square

The park’s best-known sculpture is Danny Osborne’s portrait of Oscar Wilde, shown reclining on a large quartz boulder. Jade and thulite are among the semi-precious stones used in the work, which was unveiled in 1997. The northwest corner is a useful place to enter if you want to see it first.

At weekends, artists display paintings, drawings and other work on the railings around the square. The exhibitors and pieces change, so a circuit of the perimeter can add an open-air art stop to your walk. The National Gallery of Ireland is across the street, while the Natural History Museum is about a two-minute walk away.