Discover Dublin's finest old buildings on a Georgian Walk around the city.
Our Georgian Dublin walk starts at Westland Row. As we walk up Westland Row, we pass No.21, the birthplace of Oscar Wilde. We turn left on to Fenian Street and right on to Merrion St. Lower. No.1 Merrion Square is now the American College but was the one time home of Oscar Wilde, his father Sir William and his mother, Lady Jane or Speranza, as she was known in Dublin literary circles.
Merrion Square is one of Dublin's most famous Georgian Squares and has housed Dublin's most famous political and literary names down through the years. No.58 Merrion Square was the home of Daniel O'Connell and the Irish poet, W.B. Yeats also had an address there.
As we go around Merrion Square we come across an impressive Georgian street, Fitzwilliam St. No.29 Fitzwilliam St. Lower is a completely restored middle-class house built in 1794. The house has been restored with the furnishings and atmosphere of a typical upper to middle class home of the period.
Diagonal to No.29 on the oppostie side of Merrion Square, is the The National Gallery of Ireland and it is one the city's greatest treasures. In 1853 William Dargan organised a Great International Exhibition that was held in the ground of Leinster House where the gallery is now housed. The event was such success that an impressive home was built on the site to house a permanent collection of art works. A statue of Dargan sculpted by Thomas Farrell was unveiled on the day the gallery was opened.
Next to The National Gallery is Leinster House. You might think that this is the back of the house with the main entrance on Kildare St. but you would be wrong. The Earl of Kildare would not agree with his architect which side of the house should be the front so they decided to make both sides entrances. Leinster House is the present day seat of the Irish Parliament.
The next building is the National History Museum. The National History Museum houses an extensive collection of natural artefacts from Ireland and around the world. The exhibits are crowded together in a musty and quaint Victorian manner. The museum also operates as a research centre especially in the field on entomology. The museum was opened in 1857, with a lecture by Dr David Livingstone on his "African Discoveries".
Next we turn into Fitzwilliam Lane, where we can view a Georgian back lane. We emerge onto Baggot Street and cross over to Pembroke Street. Continue on through Leeson Street onto Hatch Street Lower. At Earlsfort Terrace we come upon the National Concert Hall. The Concert Hall is the only part of the building erected for the International Exhibition of 1865 which has survived.
Then we pass down Earlsfort Terrace onto St. Stephen's Green. We take a left onto Hume St, an old Georgian Street that dates from the 1770s. Then, we go left onto Ely Place and left again to Merrion Row to the end of our Georgian Walk. Make your way up to The Shelbourne Hotel on St. Stephens Green for some well-earned refreshments.
For more information check out Georgian Tour
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