St Stephen’s Green Dublin: Map, Notable Attractions + History

At 22 acres, St Stephen’s Green is the largest of the capital’s Georgian garden squares and it’s easily one of the most visited parks in Dublin.

But this calm, leafy retreat hasn’t always been so genteel. Once a marshy common, it was the site of witch burnings, cattle grazing, and centuries of reinvention.

From its 17th-century enclosure to its 19th-century transformation by Lord Ardilaun, the Green has evolved into a park rich with history, monuments, and curious corners that tell Dublin’s story in miniature.

The history of St Stephen’s Green in Dublin

Few parks in Dublin pack as much history into their railings as St Stephen’s Green. From witch trials to private gates and Guinness-funded makeovers, this 22-acre space has seen the city change around it for centuries.

Witches… yes, witches!

If you strolled through St Stephen’s Green a few centuries ago, you might’ve stumbled on a very different scene… one involving firewood and screaming.

Yes, this genteel Victorian park once hosted Dublin’s witch burnings, with unfortunate souls tied to stakes in front of a gawking crowd.

Back then, the Green wasn’t the peaceful urban oasis we know today – it was a wild, marshy common where livestock grazed, lepers were treated nearby, and public punishments doubled as entertainment.

From marshland to Georgian elegance

In 1663, Dublin’s leaders decided to tame the unruly space. They fenced off 27 acres for a park and sold 96 surrounding plots for housing. Early buildings were modest, but by the 18th century, Georgian grandeur had transformed the area.

The wealthy paraded along the Beaux Walk in their finery, making St Stephen’s Green the city’s social catwalk. But beyond the fancy facades, the Green was still fenced off from ordinary Dubliners.

Key holders Only

By the 19th century, St Stephen’s Green was exclusive territory. Local residents controlled access with ornate iron gates and sold keys to those who could afford them. For everyone else, it remained off-limits, which was a sore point considering a 1635 law had promised it for “citizens and others to take open air.”

Guinness gives it back

Salvation came in the form of Sir Arthur Guinness (Lord Ardilaun). In 1877, he bought the park, wiped out its debts, and redesigned it with winding paths, exotic plants, a lake, and even a Swiss-style lodge. In 1880, St Stephen’s Green finally reopened to the public.

A battlefield in 1916

Peace didn’t last, however. During the Easter Rising in 1916, rebels under Michael Mallin and Countess Markievicz seized the park and dug trenches. Their plan backfired when British troops occupied the Shelbourne Hotel and turned the park into a shooting gallery. Oddly, both sides agreed to a daily ceasefire so the park’s groundskeeper could feed the ducks.

St Stephen’s Green map with landmarks

One of the reasons that a visit to St Stephen’s Green is one of the most popular things to do in Dublin is due to the number of things there is to see and do here.

Below, you’ll find everything from the beautiful archway entrance and the various statues to the flora and fauna and more.

1. Fusiliers’ Arch

This imposing gateway at the top of Grafton Street marks the main entrance to the park. Built in 1907, it commemorates the Royal Dublin Fusiliers who fought in the Second Boer War. Look closely and you’ll spot pockmarks from 1916 gunfire.

2. O’Connell Bridge

Not to be confused with the city’s river bridge, this ornamental footbridge spans the park’s lake. It offers one of the best vantage points for watching swans glide beneath the cascading artificial waterfall.

3. The Three Fates Fountain

A bronze sculpture gifted by Germany in 1956 to thank Ireland for sheltering refugee children after WWII. The three figures represent destiny weaving the threads of life.

4. The statues

There are a number of statues dotted around St Stephen’s Green. Here are the most notable:

• Lord Ardilaun: The Guinness heir who gave the park back to the public, seated regally on the west side
• Countess Markievicz: Revolutionary and politician, commemorated for her role in the 1916 Rising
• W.B. Yeats Memorial: A sculpture by Henry Moore honouring Ireland’s Nobel Prize-winning poet
• Wolfe Tone: Leader of the 1798 rebellion, standing defiantly on Merrion Row
• Robert Emmet: Remembered for his ill-fated 1803 uprising, facing his birthplace
• Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa: Fenian leader immortalised near the Grafton Street entrance
• Theobald Wolfe Tone: A nod to Ireland’s revolutionary spirit

5. The Superintendent’s Lodge

This Swiss-style cottage near the Leeson Street entrance looks like it belongs in the Alps, not Dublin. Built as part of Lord Ardilaun’s redesign, it housed the park’s head groundskeeper and is still used by staff today.

6. The lake

The three-acre lake is the park’s centrepiece, complete with an artificial waterfall, small islands, and a Pulham rockwork surround. This is Victorian landscaping at its fanciest. Today, it’s a haven for swans, ducks, and curious city wildlife.

7. The bandstand

A throwback to Victorian Dublin, this circular stage once hosted concerts and gatherings. Today it’s a popular spot for picnics and people-watching.

Things to do nearby

There’s heaps of places to visit in Dublin a short walk away from St Stephen’s Green Park, from historical sites and museums to great food and more.

Personally, I think the best thing to do is to follow this self-guided walking tour of Dublin that’s outlined on the map above. Some nearby attractions include:

1. Little Museum of Dublin (2-minute walk): Quirky Georgian townhouse museum telling Dublin’s story in 29 minutes
2. Trinity College (7-minute walk): Founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I modelled after Oxford and Cambridge, it’s home to the Book of Kells and the Long Room
3. The Iveagh Gardens (7-minute walk):  A true hidden-gem that’s home to the city’s only waterfall