Overview

Tucked away behind the National Concert Hall, the Iveagh Gardens are among the finest but least known of Dublin's parks and gardens. They were designed by Ninian Niven in 1865 as the grounds for the Dublin Exhibition Palace.

Throughout their 300-year history the gardens served as the Earl of Clonmell's private lawn, a public park known as the Coburg Gardens, the grounds of Iveagh House, and the site of the 1865 Dublin Exhibition Palace.

They were transferred into state care in 1991. They remain, despite being a few minutes' walk from Grafton Street, genuinely quieter and less visited than St. Stephen's Green.

What You'll See

The gardens contain a unique collection of features including rustic grottos, sunken formal panels of lawn with fountain centrepieces, woodlands, a maze, a rosarium, an American garden, rockeries, and archery grounds.

The standout feature is the cascade waterfall, part of the original 1865 designs, which incorporates 32 rock samples - one from each county in Ireland.

The conservation and restoration of the gardens commenced in 1995, and most features have been restored, including pre-1860s rose varieties. The yew maze is a particular favourite with younger visitors.

Visitor Essentials

Entry is free. Closing times vary with daylight hours throughout the year. The gardens are located on Clonmel Street, off Harcourt Street in Dublin 2, with additional access from Hatch Street and to the rear of the National Concert Hall on Earlsfort Terrace.

Tips

The gardens are notably hidden - first-time visitors often walk past the entrance on Clonmel Street without realizing it, so look for the gate set into the building line just off Harcourt Street.

St. Stephen's Green is a five-minute walk and easy to combine into the same morning.

Official Site: https://www.iveaghgardens.ie