Dartmouth Square facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dartmouth Square |
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| Cearnóg Dartmouth | |
Dartmouth Square, June 2008, by Red Agenda on Flickr
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| Type | Historic Square |
| Location | Dublin, Ireland |
| OSI/OSNI grid | 16266 32509 O 16266 32509 |
| Area | 2 acres (0.81 hectares) |
| Operated by | Dublin City Council |
| Designation | Architectural Conservation Area |
Dartmouth Square (also known as Cearnóg Dartmouth in Irish) is a beautiful historic park in Dublin, Ireland. It is a Victorian square, meaning it was designed during the time of Queen Victoria. You can find it near the area called Ranelagh, close to the Leeson Street bridge over the Grand Canal. It's a peaceful green space in the busy city.
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What Does Dartmouth Square Look Like?
Dartmouth Square has a simple and elegant design. It features a low wall made of granite stone. There is also a lovely pergola (a garden archway) with a walkway underneath it. Many trees surround the park, making it feel like a hidden green room. The park's edge is marked by its original iron railings and gates. These old features are important because they are part of a special protected area for the square's architecture.
The Story of Dartmouth Square
How the Park Began
Dartmouth Square was once part of a large property called the Darley Estate. The park was created at the same time as the houses around it. It was first meant to be a private garden only for the people living in the square's houses.
From Private Garden to Hockey Pitch
Over time, it became quite expensive for the residents to take care of the park. So, in 1926, they leased it to the Loreto Hockey Club. This club used the square as a hockey pitch for their former students. Later, students from Loreto College also played there. Hockey was played in the square until the 1930s or 1950s, depending on different stories. After that, it became harder to maintain, and the park started to get overgrown and neglected.
A Community Project to Save the Park
In 1987, the people living around the square formed a group called The Residents Association. They spoke to the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mrs. Carmencita Hederman. This led to the City Manager, Mr. Frank Feely, and his team working with the community. They made plans to fix up the park as a special project for Dublin's Millennium Year.
The park was cleaned up, and a new pergola was built. The paths were fixed and made wider, and new flower beds were planted. All this hard work was finished in 1988. The park was then opened to everyone as a public park! Dublin City Council took over its care with a ten-year lease. When the lease ended in 1997, the City Council continued to look after the park.
See Also
In Spanish: Plaza Dartmouth para niños
