St. Stephen's Green

St. Stephen’s Green is a Victorian park located in the centre of Dublin. It is spread over a 9 hectare area that was originally enclosed in 1664, although the present-day plan of the park was laid out in 1880. It was Sir A.E. Guinness, who was living at the present-day St. Anne’s Park, who initiated the plan to open up the park to the people of Dublin and paid for the new layout. The park’s bandstand was added in 1887 and is still used for summer daytime concerts.

Artificial Lake in St. Stephen's Green
Copyright John Kennedy

The bedding plants and flowers display a brilliant array of colour throughout the spring and summer seasons, and into autumn. The boundary of the park is lined with trees and bushes, which act as a traffic noise barrier.

To the west of St. Stephen’s Green is a waterfall and Pulham rock. An artificial lake provides a home to different species of water birds. Another feature of the park is a garden for the visually impaired. Here, scented plants that can withstand handling have been planted and they have been labelled with Braille plaques.

A number of sculptures have been erected throughout the park in memory of prominent Dubliners. A sculpture of Sir A.E. Guinness is among them.

Overall, St. Stephen’s Green offers a relaxing, natural environment in a busy city centre.

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