Merrion Square is a delicious little park right in the heart of Dublin that manages to slip under the radar of most visitors to the city. Similar to the nearby and more well-known St. Stephen’s Green, it is a Georgian square that once jealously guarded its gates, only allowing access to the residents of the grand houses surrounding the square. In 1930 it was purchased by the Roman Catholic Church as a site to build a cathedral, but the project never came to fruition and in 1974 the church transferred the land to Dublin Corporation for use as a public park. While I am sure the planned cathedral would have looked very grand indeed, I couldn’t imagine Dublin without this gem of a park.
One of the many things I love about the square is the eclectic mix of old Dublin lamp-posts scattered randomly through the park. Today Dublin sports shiny new lamp posts like this…
…but a wander through Merrion Square transports you to the streets of Dublin’s past. Here are a few of the old Dublin lamp-posts that caught my eye last time I wandered through the park, all beautiful in their own way, perfectly imperfect with their clouded glass and broken bulbs.
xxx Ailsa
Where's my backpack? 
I love the lamp posts in Dublin also.
They’re so evocative, Kate, I can almost hear the ghosts of Dublin past when I walk by them. 🙂
You have inspired me to look more carefully at the lampposts here in NYC.
There are some amazing lampposts in NYC, Thom – check out the twin lamppost in Johnny Hartman Square, another double one from the 1890s (I think) at 23rd and B’way, and a bishop’s crook one at Lafayette and Canal Street. Happy hunting. xxx
thanks
What a lovely and unusual series of photographs! Lampposts in my part of the world (US West Coast) have much less history to draw on, and still I will notice them more thanks to your post
It’s so easy to rush on by, isn’t it? 🙂
You’re so right… it is neglected in so many minds. I, for one, think I have only ever taken a quick dash through, never stopping. I’ll have to change that so maybe these will illuminate my visit! 😉
It’s worth the detour, AJ, such a lovely little spot, although last time I passed by on the bus they seemed to be doing some major work there and were taking out a whole bunch of mature trees. I’m a little traumatized to be honest, if they open the park up too much it will destroy the hidden enclave feel that makes it such a wonderful escape. Look at this recent letter in the Irish Times. http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/letters/felling-of-trees-in-merrion-square-1.2156433
Very pretty! I love this kind of lamps.
Me too, they’re so evocative. 🙂
Perfectly imperfect, a wonderful description. I know exactly what you mean. 🙂
It’s the very best kind of perfect, Sallyann, don’t you think? 🙂
Glorious! Perfectly imperfect, as you say
They’ve got so much character, Sue, much more interesting than the brand new shiny ones. 🙂
Absolutely! The older the better….
What a wonderful place to visit. I love spaces like these, missed by the masses but loved by the few. Your photos bring out the best of the history you speak of. Thanks for sharing.
So glad you enjoyed my little ramble round Merrion Square, Jude. xxx Ailsa
I love lamp posts. They show a lot about a city. These are great.
Thanks Raewyn, glad you enjoyed them. xxx Ailsa
Lovely lamp posts! I was born in the Rotunda and came home to live for the first few years of my life in a small flat on Merrion Square. I have fleeting memories of playing in the park. And later would walking through it on our way to the wonderful old Natural History Museum. Thanks for the memories!
Oh what lovely memories, Melissa, glad I could bring you for a walk down memory lane (or rather, through memory park!) 🙂
I love Ireland. I have been three times and will be back this summer. Thank you for pointing out something beautiful and interesting that I had not thought to pay attention to.
Lamp posts are cool and unique and provide a great perspective of the streets cape especially when you get down low. Love these and completely didn’t notice them the one time that I visited Dublin many years ago. Regards Peet
I’m a sucker for cool lamp posts too. I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled on our very flying visit to Dublin this summer. On that note, what would you recommend to a traveller who has one full day in Dublin?