Dublin Garden Squares Day 2017 returns for its eighth year on Saturday 10th June with a host of expert walking tours of Dublin’s historic squares and public gardens.
It follows a free morning seminar titled Squaring the City on Friday 9th June in the Irish Architectural Archive at 45 Merrion Square.
Full program and booking details below.
Squaring the City Seminar
Friday 9th June
Featuring an array of expert Irish and London-based speakers, the seminar will explore the historic origins, diversity, and design of Dublin’s squares, and highlight both cities’ experience of managing these heritage assets in the demanding urban environment.
To be followed by a light lunch, places at the seminar are strictly limited and by advance booking only to info@dublincivictrust.ie
Seminar Program
10.15 Arrival & Registration
10.30 Welcome
Geraldine Walsh, Chief Executive Officer, Dublin Civic Trust
10.40 A Shared Heritage – Dublin & London Squares
Chris Sumner, Former Chair, London Parks and Gardens Trust
11.10 Dublin’s Pocket Square
Graham Hickey, Conservation Director, Dublin Civic Trust
11.30 Protecting London’s Green Lungs
Holly Smith, Editor, Garden Square News, London
12.00 Revealing the Georgian Character –
Renovation of Merrion Square Park
Dara O’Daly, Landscape Architect, Parks Division,
Dublin City Council
12.25 The Belgrave Square Experience
Frank Hegarty, Chair, Belgrave Square & Grounds Association
12.50 Questions & Answers
13.00 Lunch
This seminar event is free but places are limited and strictly by booking only. Reserve your place by emailing info@dublincivictrust.ie
Date: Friday 9th June 2017
Time: 10.15-2.00pm
Location: Irish Architectural Archive, 45 Merrion Square, Dublin 2
Dublin Garden Squares Day 2017
Saturday 10th June 2017
Enjoy free expert walking tours of Dublin’s five main Georgian squares and associated parks and gardens in this annual staple event. Discover the history of these magnificent urban gardens, their plants and wildlife, the people who once used them and the historic buildings that embrace them.
Tours take place all day on a first-come basis, no booking is required and all events are free.
Tour Program
10.30am
Merrion Square – Evolution and Design Significance
Geraldine Walsh, Chief Executive Officer, Dublin Civic Trust
Meeting Point: Oscar Wilde Statue, inside the railings
10.30am
Mountjoy Square – Dublin’s ‘True’ Georgian Square
Karin O’Flanagan, Resident and Secretary of Mountjoy Square Society
Meeting Point: Steps of 54 Mountjoy Square West
12.00pm & 1.00pm
Fitzwilliam Square – Dublin’s Pocket Square
Graham Hickey, Conservation Director, Dublin Civic Trust
Meeting Point: Dublin Bikes station on the Pembroke Street side
Directly followed at 1.00pm by a short tour of Fitzwilliam Square’s private central garden with Rebecca Jeffares, Landscape Historian
11.00am – 4.00pm
Take a rare opportunity to enjoy free access all day to
Fitzwilliam Square’s private central garden
Also traditional lawn bowling with AnneO’Herlihy from 1.00pm
Complemented with musical entertainment
2.15pm & 3.30pm
Natural History Museum, Merrion Square
‘Zoo in my Garden’ children’s tours with Catherine McGuinness, exploring critters in your garden!
2.30pm
Parnell Square – Dublin’s First Georgian Square
James Kelly, Conservation Architect & Chairman, Dublin Civic Trust
Meeting Point: Gates to the Garden of Remembrance
3.00pm
St. Stephen’s Green – From Dublin’s Renaissance to Victoriana
Guide to be announced
Meeting Point: Fusiliers’ Arch at the top of Grafton Street
Mountjoy Square Events
To mark recent improvements to Mountjoy Square, including clearance of fencing and vegetation that allows sweeping views of the square for the first time in decades, we have arranged music and children’s events right in the heart of Mountjoy Square Park. Take the opportunity to have a look at the ongoing pioneering restoration of the square’s original wrought-iron railings, now largely complete on the southwest corner.
12.30pm Rousing music with the Blanchardstown Brass Band
2.00pm Art in the Park with artist Jo Callanan
Meet at the hard surface football area
2.30pm Afro-Eire rhythm music
3.00pm Nature Detectives with Sara Rublaca
Meet at the hard surface football area
3.30pm Green Fingers – planting workshop for children
