Merrion Square Plaza

Address: Merrion Square, Dublin 2, Ireland

Website: https://www.dublincity.ie

Hours: Daily dawn-dusk

Admission: Free (public park)

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.

Merrion Square is a five- to ten-minute walk from St. Stephen’s Green or the National Gallery. Dublin Bus routes 7, 7A, 27, and 45 stop nearby; the closest Luas (tram) stop is at St. Stephen’s Green (Green Line).

• Visit early morning to see the statue of Oscar Wilde on the bench before crowds arrive
• Walk the north side first - the gravel paths there keep older Georgian doorways in frame for the best photographs
• Stop at the small café on the southeast corner for people-watching; it's where locals and students converge