Merrion Square is the finest of Dublin's Georgian squares and one of the best-preserved 18th-century streetscapes in Europe. The four sides of the square are lined with terraces of brick townhouses built between the 1760s and the 1830s, each with the distinctive Dublin hallmarks: wide door fanlights, decorative ironwork, and colourful front doors.
The park at the centre is free and open daily. On weekends, local artists hang their work on the railings for sale — a tradition that has continued since the 1950s. The park also contains a striking sculpture garden with works by Irish artists.
Oscar Wilde's childhood home is at No. 1, on the northwest corner. Daniel O'Connell lived at No. 58. The National Gallery of Ireland faces the square on its west side. Leinster House — now home to the Irish parliament, the Dáil — closes off the western side. Fitzwilliam Square, one block south, is smaller and quieter, and its central garden is one of Dublin's best-kept secrets.