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Ireland is well known for its endless expanse of greenery. However in Dublin you don’t see much evidence of that.
Understandably, the reason is because Dublin is a thriving capital city, and cities – with the possible exception of Canberra – mostly contain buildings, not plants.
Merrion Square on the south side of the city centre however combines exquisite Goergian architecture with a lush environment. Archbishop Ryan Park takes pride of place in the middle of the square.
This was originally supposed to be the site for a new cathedral but since nothing came of it, the Dublin City Council transformed it into a park in 1974.
The park contains a central green, flower beds, and is densely populated by a variety of trees – providing a shady walkway all around its perimeter. Other features include several sculptures and an assortment of old Dublin lamp standards.
The square is also famous for the diverse notable buildings that face it. These include Leinster House (seat of the Irish parliament), the Natural History Building of the National Museum of Ireland, and the National Gallery of Ireland.
The Irish Red Cross and the Football Association of Ireland also have their headquarters in Merrion Square. Famous Irishmen who resided at Merrion Square include the playwright Oscar Wilde, the poet WB Yeats, and Ireland’s liberator Daniel O’Connell.
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