While sauntering a tree-lined trail on the northern end of the square, Danny Osborne’s colorful stone sculpture of Oscar Wilde may catch your eye. Commissioned by the Guinness family and erected in 1997, it depicts the legend lounging on a rock in his usual flashy dress. The green jacket is made from jade with a bright pink thulite collar, while his trousers are blue pearl granite and shoes are a shiny black. One side of his face looks joyous and the other sad, signifying the duality of his personality and work. It’s flanked by two pillars engraved with quotes from his writing, one topped with a statue of his pregnant wife and the other with a male torso that represents Dionysus, the Greek god of theater and wine.
Time Out tip: Wander across the road to 1 Merrion Square, where Wilde was born and raised before jetting off and finding fame in England. Time your visit with one of the many events or festivals held among the beautiful geometric flower gardens in Merrion Square.
Nearby:
The Merrion: For high tea designed to match the hotel’s extensive art collection
Science Gallery Dublin: For interactive exhibits at the intersection of science and art
Trinity College: To see the largest and most impressive library in all of Ireland
Peruke & Periwig: For creative cocktails and simple bar snacks in a gilded Victorian lounge