About Merrion Square Park
Just east across from St Stephen's Green and a brisk 8-minute jaunt from Grafton Street, Merrion Square Park is Georgian Dublin at its finest—a leafy square enclosed by elegant red-brick mansions where Oscar Wilde grew up. Dating to 1765, its 10-acre lawns host tennis courts, playgrounds, and statues of literary giants like Yeats and Shaw amid horse chestnut avenues. The air hums with birdsong, fresh-cut grass, and distant sea breezes from nearby Leinster House. Artists sketch from the railings (Dublin's last open-air art fair Sundays), making it a cultural hub in the city centre.
What to Expect
Vast green expanses for frisbee or lounging, a fab toddler playground, basketball courts, and the OSCAR Wilde memorial—witty and flamboyant. Flowerbeds dazzle in colour, squirrels beg nuts, and it's dog heaven.
Insider Tips
Enter via Clare Street post-Grafton Street for seamless flow. Sunday art market? Bargain for watercolours. Best bench: under the big lime tree near Wilde statue. Picnic from nearby O'Briens—watch buskers. Morning yoga classes pop up. Free parking scarce, so Luas it. Top Grafton Street area park for creatives and families alike. Locals swear by its embassy-quiet vibe despite location.
Timeless elegance meets lively green—pure Dublin sophistication.