_-_panoramio.jpg){kind=link}
At the top of O’Connell Street, past the buses and the shouting and the man selling phone chargers, there’s a garden where Dublin goes quiet.
Most visitors walk straight past it. It’s behind railings, below street level, and from the pavement it looks like a sunken pond. Go in.
What it is
The Garden of Remembrance is dedicated to the memory of all those who gave their lives in the cause of Irish freedom. It was designed by the architect Dáithí Hanly and officially opened in 1966, on the fiftieth anniversary of the 1916 Rising.
The spot was chosen for a reason. After the surrender in 1916, rebels from the GPO were held overnight in the open on this ground, then part of the gardens of the Rotunda Hospital, before being marched away to prison.
What to look for
The pool
The long cross-shaped pool has a mosaic of broken weapons on the floor, in the shape of swords, shields and spears from Ireland’s ancient past. The idea, an old Celtic custom, is that you throw your weapons into the water when the fighting is over.
The Children of Lir
At the far end stands the great bronze sculpture by Oisín Kelly, from the legend of the Children of Lir: four children turned into swans by a jealous stepmother and condemned to wander the waters of Ireland for 900 years. It’s a story every Irish child knows, and it’s here as a symbol of rebirth.
On the wall behind it is a poem by Liam Mac Uistin, “We Saw a Vision”. Take a moment to read it. The OPW, who look after the garden, recommend it, and they’re right.
A famous moment
In May 2011, Queen Elizabeth II laid a wreath here on the first state visit by a British monarch to independent Ireland, and bowed her head. For many people in Ireland, it was the moment the old relationship between the two countries finally changed.
Opening hours and admission
- Admission: free
- April – September: 8:30am – 6pm
- October – March: 9:30am – 4pm
- Address: Parnell Square East, Dublin 1 (D01 AOF8)
It’s open all year. Most people spend 15 minutes to half an hour; the OPW suggests up to an hour if you want to sit.
Getting there
Walk to the north end of O’Connell Street, past the Parnell Monument, and you’re there. It’s about ten minutes on foot from O’Connell Bridge. The Luas Green Line stops at Parnell and at O’Connell Upper, both a couple of minutes away, and dozens of bus routes pass the square.
What else is on Parnell Square
Parnell Square is one of Dublin’s oldest Georgian squares, and it’s had a rough few years for visitors, so here’s an honest update:
- The Dublin Writers Museum at No. 18 closed during the pandemic and did not reopen. If that’s what you came for, go to MoLI, the Museum of Literature Ireland, on St Stephen’s Green instead. See our guide to Dublin museums.
- The Hugh Lane Gallery, the city’s free gallery of modern art in Charlemont House, is currently closed for redevelopment, with reopening reported for 2028. Check its website before you go.
- The Rotunda Hospital on the south side of the square was the first purpose-built maternity hospital in the world and is still delivering Dubliners today.
- Moore Street, a few minutes away, is where the rebels finally surrendered in 1916, and its street market is one of the oldest in the city.
Garden of Remembrance FAQs
Is the Garden of Remembrance free?
Yes, admission is free.
What does the Garden of Remembrance commemorate?
All those who gave their lives in the cause of Irish freedom. It opened in 1966 for the fiftieth anniversary of the Easter Rising.
Who made the Children of Lir sculpture?
Oisín Kelly.
How long do I need?
Fifteen minutes to see it. As long as you like to sit.
Opening hours from the OPW’s Heritage Ireland website, checked November 2026.
Continue up the road with our guide to things to do in Dublin, or follow the 1916 story to Kilmainham Gaol.