TWO GARDENS YOU MUST VISIT IN DUBLIN

Hello everybody! My name is Gabriela Islabão and I have been studying English at ISI since August 2024. When I first got here, I started looking for gardens to visit, because I love plants and nature, so it is amazing spending time in a green silent place. In this blog, I will show you my two favourite gardens in our lovely temporary city.

NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDEN – GLASNEVIN

The garden’s history started in 1790, when a guy called Walter Wade petitioned Parliament for a public botanic garden to promote a scientific approach to the study of agriculture. Only in 1800 the garden was opened to the public and the first glass house was built. Years after years, the infrastructure has been being improved and some restorations have been made. It resulted in the garden we can visit today. Now, their purpose is to explore, understand, conserve and share the importance of plants.

Their fine plant collections hold more than 15.000 plant species and cultivars, so you can see a huge variety of plants there. You can have a peacefully walk in a sunny afternoon, seat in a bench and read a book (in English, of course hehe). If you have never seen a squirrel, you will certainly see a few there. You can see a lot of flowers and take some good pictures of you. Bring some snacks or have a picnic, you choose. Invite your friends and go! Enjoy the view.

The National Botanic Garden is located at Glasnevin, Dublin 9, D09 VY63. There is no fee to access the place, and they have different opening hours during Winter and Summer. I recommend you check their website (https://www.botanicgardens.ie/) before you plan your visit.

THE GARDENS AT THE ROYAL HOSPITAL KILMAINHAM

This is a 18^th century formal garden located in Kilmainham, attached to the Royal Hospital. The site was built in the 1680s, being one of Ireland’s most historic sites. The Duke of Ormonde needed the Royal Hospital to be a home for his soldiers, but also, he wanted a building that would mark the starting point of Dublin’s development into an European standing city. The place remained a home to the old soldiers until 1927. The grounds contain The Hospital Burial Ground, which is the cemetery of the old soldiers, and you can see that by walking through IMMA Garden Walk.

The main area for me is the garden. It is amazing, quiet and well taken care. You go there and enjoy the view while you get some rest. For those who enjoy looking to symmetrical images, that is a perfect real one. Those trees are perfectly shaped, it is a brain massage! I like going there to read or crochet.

The Garden at The Royal Hospital Kilmainham is located at Kilmainham, Dublin 8, D08 FW31. Considering you are already there, you can visit the Irish Museum of Modern Art which is attached to the place. The ticket is free, and you can be inspired by a variety of paintings and art in general they have there.

Well guys, I hope you enjoy those two places like I do and have a peaceful time during your visit. If you go, don’t forget to post it and tag ISI.

See you next time 😊