St Stephen’s Green in Dublin
A vast 22-acres of green space, right in the heart of Dublin City Centre, St. Stephen’s Green in Dublin isn’t just your everyday park. A moment of calm away from the hustle and bustle of the city, it’s an oasis that can be enjoyed by everyone. The original Victorian layout and bedding has been maintained over the years, so it looks today almost how it did back in 1880 when the park was re-opened to the public by Lord Ardilaun.
The park features a waterfall, an ornamental lake, and Pulham rock work on the western side of the green. Sculptures spring up throughout the green symbolising important moments in Irish history. And there’s a children’s playground to keep the little ones busy too. If the weather isn’t great, you can take cover in the Victorian lakeside shelter or Swiss shelter right in the centre of the park.
A garden for the blind
Within St. Stephen’s Green in Dublin is a garden for the visually impaired. Fragrant plants fill the garden, all identified by a placard written in brail. Visitors are encouraged to use their sense of touch for the full sensory experience, as each variety of flower has been chosen for its hardiness.
Other interesting facts about St. Stephen’s Green in Dublin
- St. Stephen’s Green was originally a marshy common where villagers put their animals out to graze
- Up until the 1770s, most public hangings and executions took place in St. Stephen’s Green
- The park is steeped in history – during the Easter Rising of 1916, a group of insurgents dug defensive positions into the park
- During the Easter Rising there was a ceasefire at the park to allow the groundsman to feed the local ducks
- During the summer months concerts are performed in St. Stephen’s Green
