A bright sunny and hot Sunday afternoon was in the offering, so, family plus dog was packed up and…read morewith the intention of picking up picnic goods on the way, we left for Marley park. Now, being nearly 40 and increasingly removed from popular culture I miss the odd fact, like this weekend Marley Park was playing host to 30,000 music fans, which makes things like a picnic on the main stage a bit of a challenge. "What's that?" my wife asked as I drove on, wondering where the hell to go and 'I wonder if the people in that house would mind if we just set up camp on their front lawn?' It would probably be fine (picture worried looking people peeping out the sitting room curtains as the family Q picnic on their lawn)... till we start nipping behind the shrubbery for a pee... "What?" I reply and then see the sign for the Padraig Pearse Museum & St Enda's Park... I had never heard of it but having nowhere better in mind we decide to give it a bash. It's days like this where I should have done the lotto - we struck lucky with a spectacular park and grounds, full Brambles café (for those without picnic) and the weather to match. There is also an old castle ruin (a folly I'm pretty sure) which kept junior amused for ages. Well worth a visit, we didn't go into the museum, will save that for a more inclement day.

Really gorgeous well kept park. I mainly go to Marlay Park with my toddler because the playground…read moreis so good but decided to stop here for a change earlier this week. We had a nice little adventure. Would love to stop into the Pearse Museum but my two year old's attention span and noise levels wouldn't allow for a museum visit at the moment, another day perhaps! Not sure it's the most dog-friendly of places, spotted a very strict sign about dogs!! I could be wrong though. Regardless it's very peaceful and lovely spot for a picnic.

Nice park with an enclosed dog park to allow off lead. It's an interesting walk through woodland…read moreand open areas and a coffee shop to recharge. The market was a disappointment with fewer stalls than expected and nowhere near as good as others in Temple Bar, Farmleigh and Dun Laoighre. Parking available but gets busy later in the morning so arrive around 10 in my view.

Marlay Park is a 121 hectares suburban public park located in Rathfarnham in Dún…read moreLaoghaire-Rathdown, Ireland. Lying about nine kilometres from Dublin city centre, the parkland comprises woodlands, ponds and walks.

Palmerston Park is a treasure of a park that admittedly I lived right next to and didn't notice it…read morewas there until about 7 months in. From the outside it's deceptviely small looking, but once you get inside you'll find that it's quite large and there's many different sections and areas. If you ever get a sunny spring day it's perfect place to sit outside and relax in the sunshine. There's a footpath that goes around the perimeter of the park. It's excellent if you're looking for a change in your walking routine or somewhere safe for the kids to ride their bikes around. I've never seen the park crowded which is perfect because you're always sure to get a spot on the grass, which can't be said for St. Stephen's Green. And also a nerdy history note, Palmerston Park was the headquarters of James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde, during the Battle of Rathmines in 1649. When Butler and his troops were defeated, the route was opened for Cromwell to invade the rest of Ireland ... ok so maybe not a selling point for the park, but still something to think about when you're bikin around.

Watch out for the duck pond. In the twilight, careless walkers may mistake its green algae for…read moregrass and stroll right in. I got within a few feet before my walking companion pulled me back. Dangers aside, this is a gorgeous park. Gorgeous and old. You can feel its age. These massive trees didn't spring up in the last couple of years - I'm sure their roots were already deep when my grandparents were young. There is something very special about strolling around a beautiful old park this like without seeing another soul. Other parks may be more beautiful, but few are as stately.

Home to the smallest waterfall I've ever seen in my life. I've only ever seen one so I know that's…read morenot much to compare to, but still I mean look at it

Giving this peaceful and roomy park an outstanding review to place on the Dublin Yelp scene!…read more Huge open space in the middle, plenty of room for energetic dogs and people, benches for sitting, paved exterior path around the edge - and next to the lengthy paved river trail for extended walks/runs. Basically...this park has almost everything, especially peace & quiet away from the nearby big city!

Giving this peaceful and lengthy trail an outstanding review to place on the Dublin Yelp scene!…read more This paved trail goes for many kilometers along the river. Narrows to one person width at times but otherwise wide enough for two people side-by-side. Fantastic site for a long run or walk...

This is quite a large park spanning the void between Templeogue and Tallaght and is quite…read moreunfortunately split by the M50 running through it. This park is mostly fields rather than being an ornamental park, but they have got area with artificial lakes which are quite picturesque. They've also got a reasonably decent set of paths going through it in various ways. The fields are used for sports and there's a couple of GAA clubs and at least one soccer club attached to it. There are also a few pockets of wooded areas with young trees - beware of teenage knacker-drinkers in these spots come evening time! Most of the entrances to the park are gated but there are always some which don't close, certainly at the north end, which is important to know as the gates can close as early as 4pm in the winter. This park is mostly used by people jogging or walking their dogs, or to get the kids to run around. The park rules state that you can't have dogs off the lead, but the rules aren't enforced as long as you keep dogs under control and away from the birdlife at the lake areas (they are very strict about this). The "river" poddle runs though the park, and although it's basically a stream it does have the honour of also being the moat of Dublin Castle (which is mostly underground now).

Tymon park is in Tallaght and is close to where I live. There are many lakes and wildlife in this…read morepark. There are bridges cross the lakes allowing access to both sides. There are large colonies of wildfowl here, including a resident population of Mallard ducks, coot and moorhen. It is a lovely place to come for a walk or to feed the ducks with the family. Definately a place to go if you are in the area.

Great park for me and Ted. He entertains the kids and I can have a leisurely coffee .read more

Harolds Cross Park is small, but like my good self perfectly formed…read more It has a nice play area for children and a waterfall for ...well, probably just because it looks nice but I have always imagined it to be a great place to hang out on a sunny day. Unfortunately being in Ireland I have yet to see the park on a sunny day so that is a theory that remains to be put to the test.

Dublin's Georgian set-pieces are rightly lauded as some of the central city's best spaces, but…read moretheir Victorian successors shouldn't be overlooked. Located just off Rathmines Road, this park has the very definite feel of being the common garden of the surrounding houses of the square, which is, of course, exactly the purpose of the green spaces in all of Dublin's squares. Don't let that put you off, though; the park has been open to all, residents or otherwise, for over 30 years. There's a children's playground to keep the kids occupied, and tree-sheltered corners to just relax, virtually undisturbed by the traffic.

Beautiful little park between Rathmines and Ranelagh. One of my fav spots in the summer. During the…read moreday there can be a lot of kids in the playground and it's a popular lunch haunt during the week if the weather is good. There are lots of benches around the edge of sitting on the rasa doesn't strike your fancy. There is loads of green space though and a few trees which, though beautiful, also provide lovely shade for the more fair skinned among us.

A little park, but bigger than you'd think when you see it from the road. Nestled in between…read morehousing estates and industrial estates, there's a few fields, some trees and a few hills. Nice for a suburban wander of a sunny day - if we ever have sunny days again!