Hidden Dublin

18th December 2024

Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland, is on Ireland’s east coast at the mouth of the River Liffey. It is a city steeped in history and vibrant culture, offering more than just Dublin Castle, the Guinness Storehouse and Temple Bar. Delve into its hidden gems, from tranquil parks to historic churches.

Wander the quaint cobbled streets, and discover some of the lesser known delights of this great city. 

First up is Sweny’s Pharmacy. Little has changed of the Victorian establishment that stands only 100 yards or so from the birthplace of Oscar Wilde. Dispensing cabinets and their contents of brown paper-wrapped prescriptions and rolls of undeveloped film remain intact.The 11 by 14-foot building in Dublin was originally a general practitioner’s consulting room. Pharmacist Frederick William Sweny took it over in 1853, and the place operated as an apothecary until 2009. It’s had several owners since then, but the Sweny surname remains above the door to this day. The Pharmacy is now a second hand bookshop which encourages folk to come in and browse its book selection, or read a passage from Ulysses. One can even still purchase a bar of “sweet lemony wax” to commemorate the event. A real step back in time.

Now for Dublin’s Garden of Remembrance. The Garden of Remembrance commemorates all Irish uprisings and rebellions from 1798 through Ireland’s more recent “Troubles” of the 20th century. It also features a large statue created by Oisín Kelly of the Children of Lir that signifies rebirth and resurrection and is based on a famous Irish myth regarding the transformation of the daughters of king into swans by a jealous stepmother, their subsequent exile, and their symbolic return. It is a garden steeped in Nationalist history, and it is lined with harps and other symbols of the Irish Republican movement. A very interesting place to visit.

Next is The Hungry Tree. It is an 80-year-old London Plane tree that’s currently in the process of devouring a cast iron bench. As the years have passed, the tree has grown, causing it to swallow the parts of the structure that stands in its way. Its gnarled bark now spills over the back of the bench, making it appear as though the seat is being sucked into the tree’s trunk. The arboreal bench-eater is located within the grounds of The Honourable Society of King’s Inns, Ireland’s oldest school of law, established in 1541 during the reign of King Henry VIII. The grounds are open and accessible to the public and lead on to Henrietta Street, which along with King’s Inns itself has been used as a location for many films and TV dramas.

On to the Statue of Oscar Wilde. On the northwest corner of Merrion Square, a colourful character is sprawled on a quartz boulder, his long legs stretched down the side of the rock as he wryly observes those passing by. Fans will instantly recognise him as renowned author, playwright and wit Oscar Wilde, immortalised in statue form just a few steps from the house in which he was raised. It’s a sculpture every bit as flamboyant as the man himself. Wilde was well known for his love of the finer things in life, which is why the artist Danny Osborne created a statue that’s unusually vivid. Take a closer look at Wilde’s glossy smoking jacket and you’ll see that the colour comes not from paint, but from precious stone. His green jacket is carved from jade, the colour and cuffs made from a rare pink stone called thulite and the trousers a blue pearl granite.

Next (before something to eat!) the incredible Diving Bell on Grand Canal Dock is a fascinating remnant of Dublin Port’s history. Designed by port engineer Bindon Blood Stoney (what a name!), it was used from 1871 during the construction of the quay walls and only went out of use in 1958. The huge orange contraption enabled people to work under water, though the conditions inside were said to be pretty uncomfortable. In the bell’s interpretative centre, you can learn more about the dock workers who did the difficult and essential work inside it. Afterwards, why not stop off at Bindon Blood Stoney Road around the corner and tip your hat to the wily inventor. 

Finally The Little Kitchen. Their Mission is a simple one, to deliver the finest food from quality local ingredients and suppliers and welcoming friendly service environment to enjoy it all in and without a scary bill on the end. Whether it’s a small meal out to give yourself a night off from the washing up, a family gathering, birthday or special occasion of any kind. A really great place.

We hope you have enjoyed your virtual tour of some of Dublin’s hidden gems…

Tony for the TripFiction Team

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