Merrion Square

Merrion Square is a formal Georgian garden square in central Dublin, developed in the late 18th century and surrounded by terraced townhouses in the Georgian style. The square’s central park and surrounding architecture make it a well-known example of Dublin’s Georgian urban planning.

The park at the square includes paved paths, lawns, ornamental planting and public sculpture; one prominent statue commemorates the writer Oscar Wilde. Many of the surrounding townhouses have been converted to offices, embassies, and small museums, while others remain private residences.

Historically the square was developed as a residential enclave for Dublin’s professional and political classes in the late 1700s and has retained much of its original layout and façades through conservation efforts.

Merrion Square is located in central Dublin, within walking distance of major cultural institutions and government buildings in the city centre.

• Date and preservation: The square was laid out in the late 18th century and remains one of Dublin's best-preserved Georgian garden squares, with many original terraced façades still intact.
• Notable features and surroundings: A prominent statue of Oscar Wilde stands in the park; the square is also home to several cultural institutions and is adjacent to central government and museum districts.

What to See #

• Merrion Square Park: Merrion Square Park - the central landscaped public garden of the square with pathways, statue(s) and seasonal planting, enclosed by iron railings and open to the public.
• Georgian terraces: Surrounding Georgian terraces - late 18th- and early 19th-century townhouses that form the four sides of the square and house private residences, offices, and several museums.