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    Blessington Street Basin

    4.8 (10 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 9:30 pm

    Blessington Street Basin Photos

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    Dolores M.

    "Blessington Street Basin was first commissioned by Dublin Corporation as a water reservoir for the city in 1810. It underwent an extensive programme of refurbishment between April 1993 and October 1994 when it was then formally re-opened as a public amenity by President Mary Robinson in the company of the Lord Mayor, John Gormley." what a great little find! i was over looking for a bicycle in phibsboro one day last summer and i was tired and hot and needed a rest after my trip was unsuccessful. this place is so restful and calm and lovely. it is a total hidden gem in the city (if i want to be cliche about it!)

    Annie L.

    This linked corridor of parks cuts a green swathe through Dublin 7, from just north of Parnell Square to Phibsboro. Occupying a former branch of the Royal Canal which fed the city's former reservoir at Blessington Street, this linear park offers shaded seating flanking a narrow promenade leading south from the busy traffic artery that is the North Circular Road, before ending with basketball courts and hard-surface football pitches; at this point turning left brings you into the Canal Basin, now an oasis of calm in a quiet neighbourhood that feels nothing at all like the bustling city centre it flanks. Another unexpected and underused treasure.

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    Review Highlights - Blessington Street Basin

    If they're open, you can stop at the Phibsboro Library across from the entrance to the park on North Circular Road).

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    Garden of Remembrance

    Garden of Remembrance

    4.3(25 reviews)
    0.5 kmParnell Square

    One of the must see free gardens and parks in Dublin. We met our tour guide here as he deemed it…read morethe "staple of the city center" and talked about the significance of the Garden of Remembrance. If you've taken any time to study Irish history - you'll know the Irish fought for their land and freedoms for centuries and often times, they were not the victors. In the few years spent traveling to Ireland you'll hear a lot of the Irish people's plight for freedom and it was never an easy battle. Essentially this garden of remembrance signifies the Irish people and their contributions towards fighting for their freedoms. What I found interesting is that Our tour guide called himself a "blue blood" which in simpler terms he referred to him being a true Dublin local and that these garden means a lot to his people and those working in the city. He taught us a lot about the grounds, the fountains and statues. We toured the grounds with him and they were very nice and well kept. While looking over the fountain statues we were introduced to one of the groundskeepers as well. As lovely as it is it's also a somber place. We were told the story of what the children and swan statue represents, an Irish folklore. All interesting stuff and while the garden is free, I'd highly recommend hiring a local guide as there is so much we wouldn't have learned had we not had someone to tell us the history and stories of what we were looking at on the grounds.

    Just like so many other memorials and tributes, this one is dedicated to victims of battle-people…read morefighting for their rights and freedom. No matter the culture, this seems to be a prevailing characteristic of humanity-we like to fight each other. It's a lovely little garden with a water feature in the center. There's a large sculpture at the end which depicts four children who were transformed into swans and will turn back into humans after 900 years, according to the legend of the Children of Lir.

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    Garden of Remembrance
    Garden of Remembrance - Shields and swords thrown into the bottom of the reflecting pool.

    Shields and swords thrown into the bottom of the reflecting pool.

    Garden of Remembrance

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    Art Tunnel Smithfield

    Art Tunnel Smithfield

    5.0(3 reviews)
    1.0 kmNorth Inner City

    This is the type of place you see spring up in New York, where a load of amazing and quirky and…read morecreative people get off their amazing and quirky and creative asses and do something amazing and quirky and creative. Nestled away just off Queen St and Benburb St, with buildings all around, and the Luas running right next to it, is the Art Tunnel Smithfield. A 70m long narrow strip of garden slash art gallery slash park slash community area. It's truly amazing what's been done here in I believe about 10 months. A narrow, derelict site has been changed into something truly wonderful for the community to own and be part of and use to enrich their lives. The space is divided into a few sections - 1) A wild section out the back that hasn't been leveled or 'done' in anyway - just allowed to grow and be a home for local flora and fauna 2) A community art section that will soon be encased by gorgeous creepers, making it feel nearly like a secret garden art gallery. Any member of the community can ask to put something up here - at the moment it's full of small canvasses made by eight year olds, and they are fab! 3) A small seating area where you can sit with your book, or chat to others who are using the space 4) A curated arts section for more large scale pieces by emerging artists. You will need to come down to really see what these wonderful pieces are about This is all housed amongst flowers and greenery not normally seen in areas like this. Anyone can become a key holder - just contact the guys through the Facebook page, or get down there yourself and have a chat. I'm delighted I've found it and will certainly be making the most of it!

    Stumbled across this place the other day on my way somewhere else…read more It's like finding a Narnia-like garden in the middle of the city. It is there for any local residents to use. You can go in and garden, create art, or just admire what's already there. This is the type of place that makes Dublin the unique city it is.

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    Art Tunnel Smithfield - Love this!

    Love this!

    Art Tunnel Smithfield
    Art Tunnel Smithfield

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    St Mary's Pro-Cathedral - Photo from website

    St Mary's Pro-Cathedral

    3.7(3 reviews)
    1.0 kmNorth Inner City

    Although located on the grim skid-row of Marlborough Street, St Mary's Pro-Cathedral is an…read moreabsoulute gem of a building. Along with St Andrew's Church on Westland Row, the Pro-Cathedral is one of the finest modern church buildings in the city centre. The Pro-Cathedral is a fine example of a church built in the Classical Greek style, with large Doric cloumns on the inside as well as outside. The Pro-Cathedral was built early in the 19th century, and is modeled on the church of St Philippe-le-Roule in Paris. St Mary's Pro-Cathedral would not be the most frequented tourist attraction in Dublin, located off the beaten track as it is, but it only a minutes walk from O'Connell St, and it should definitely be part of your itinerary if you are visiting Dublin and old churches are your thing. I prefer the Classical style of St Mary's to the medieval Gothic of Christchurch or St Patrick's Cathedrals personally, and best of all, the Pro-Cathedral has no admission charge, whereas the other two have.

    Back in the early 19th century, when Protestants didn't care too much for Catholics, the idea was…read moremooted to put the Pro-Cathedral on O'Connell Street. However, such a flagrant symbol of Taigism was judged unwise, what with the Penal Laws and all their attendant imaginative punishments, so it was built on Marlborough Street instead. From the outside, its most distinguishing feature is its sea-green dome, whereas inside it is a mix of Greek and Roman architectural styles, (more white marble statues than you can shake a crosier at), beautiful stained glass and an amazing panelled ceiling - the inside of the dome. Strangely, the name doesn't mean that it has professional cathedral status - in fact, it isn't officially recognised as a cathedral at all.

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    St Mary's Pro-Cathedral - Statue of Margaret Ball & Francis Taylor 16 Century Persecuted Catholics declared Blessed by Pope Paul Second in 1992

    Statue of Margaret Ball & Francis Taylor 16 Century Persecuted Catholics declared Blessed by Pope Paul Second in 1992

    St Mary's Pro-Cathedral - Front of Marlborough Street St Marys Cathedral

    Front of Marlborough Street St Marys Cathedral

    St Mary's Pro-Cathedral - Photo from website

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    Photo from website

    Blessington Street Basin - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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