• Saint Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Dublin

Probably Ireland's best known Victorian public park and it's one of the oldest public parks in Ireland. This 9 hectare (22 acre) park is a sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of the city's streets with tree lined walks, shrubberies, colourful flower beds, herbaceous borders, rockeries, an ornamental lake and a garden for the visually impaired.
The bandstand is a well-known feature in this park. Lunchtime concerts are performed during the summer months.
There's disabled access, all entrances are level and the pathways have a tarmacadam surface. There's also a playground. An accessible unisex toilet is situated beside the ladies public toilets. Guide dogs permitted.
Enquiries phone 01 4757816....

• Government Publications Sale Office, Molesworth St., Dublin 2, Dublin

The history of St. Stephen's Green, in the heart of Dublin, goes back to Medieval times. It was the generosity of Lord Ardilaun, who gave it to the nation in 1880, that created the Green as we know it today and made it a public park. This fully illustrated centenary booklet gives the history of the Green, and contains descriptions of its landscape, trees, birds, statues, memorials and other special features....

• Phoenix Park, Dublin 8, Dublin

The main entrance to the park is on Parkgate Street in Dublin 7. The Phoenix Park is made up of extensive lawns, tree-lined pathways, nature trails, lakes as well as ornamental gardens. Admission to the park is free and you'll also get the chance to see a deer or two as it's home to a herd of wild deer.
Attractions within the park include Dublin Zoo, the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre, the Wellington Monument, the Papal Cross, which was erected in memory of Pope John Paul II's visit in 1979 and Áras an Uachtaráin, the home of the Irish president....

• Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, Dublin

The Park:

140 ha (345 acres). This linear park follows the Tolka River Valley for 8km from Mulhuddart to Ashtown. The pasturelands and playing fields of the upper section give way to woodlands, undulating fields and wetlands, providing varied landscapes and natural habitats for a wide variety of fauna. There is an elevated boardwalk opposite the town centre, Blanchardstown, a viewing bridge and a variety of playing pitches....

• Grange Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16, Dublin

St Endas Park, where the young patriot and poet Patrick Pearse ran an Irish-speaking school, Scoil Eanna. It was from here that Patrick and his brother William went out to fight on Easter Monday in 1916. Both were executed for their parts as leaders of the easter rising. The school now houses a small museum which commemorates the Pearse Brothers....

• Dublin 7, Dublin

On the south bank of the River Liffey, opposite the Phoenix Park, are the war memorial gardens at Islandbridge, dedicated to the memory of the 49,400 Irish soldiers who died in the 1914-1918 war. The gardens, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and laid out in 1931, have been splendidly restored in recent years....

• Clontarf, Dublin 3, Dublin

St Ann's Park which covers 266 acres of landscaped gardens at the former home of the Guinness family of brewery fame. There is every kind of rose represented here inclucing shrub roses, rambling and climbing roses and also floribunda.

• Balbriggan, Dublin

Built by Rev. Robert Taylor in 1738, this fine 18th century country-manor house is surrounded by 80ha of woodlands and gardens.

It overlooks the sea 30km north of Dublin city. Ardgillan houses the permanent exhibition of 17th century "Down Survey" maps of Ireland.

The garden contains a fine Victorian conservatory and rose garden. A unique 20 alcove fruit wall is one of the features of the Walled Garden which also includes sections for herbs, vegetables and Irish plants.

Further improvements are being assisted from the ERDF grant through the Great Gardens of Ireland Restoration Programme.
Facilities: Toilets, Parking, Guided Tours, Tea Room, Wheelcahir access....

• Dublin 9, Dublin

Marlay Park was once a private estate, but it is now a public park with terrific family amenities including play areas, a golf course, miniature railway, lakes, woods and parkland. The stables beside the estate mansion are now home to thriving crafts studios and shops. Marlay Park is also the starting point of the Wicklow Way, a long-distance walk that winds its way through the Wicklow Mountains, and on to Co Kilkenny where it ends in the town of Graiguenamanagh....

• Swords, Dublin

Swords Town Park was opened by Dublin County Council in 1987. It was the site of Swords House, the home of the Taylors of Swords from the early fifteenth century. A member of the family, Francis Taylor who distinguised himself in the civil and business life of Dublin city, was beatified in September 27th 1992 by Pope John Paul II....