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The Irish Sun

‘Really amazing' – The huge playground in heart of Dublin city with swings set and slides – with food market once a week

And there is an art exhibit that happens once a week too FUN-TASTIC 'Really amazing' – The huge playground in heart of Dublin city with swings set and slides – with food market once a week TAKE a look at the popular Irish playground with a swing set, basket swings, a huge slide and an obstacle course - and it's smack right in the heart of the bustling capital. Located at Merrion Square in Dublin City, it is one of the finest Georgian garden parks in the area, surrounded by several notable buildings within the square. 6 Merrion Square Park is the ideal spot for a family day out 6 It has many beautiful flowerbeds Credit: Alamy 6 The locals widely love the play areas in the park Credit: Alamy Just a short walk from Pearse train station, which is frequently used by the DART and Rosslare Europort services, the playground and the surrounding area are the ideal day out spot for the family. The highlight for visitors is the large, restored play area with wooden and secured equipment - and it's open for the majority of the day all year round. The underrated spot has been praised as one of the best in Dublin by the locals, and it is based on the famous Oscar Wilde story The Selfish Giant. Oscar spent most of his life on Merrion Square, which sparked the council to dedicate the restored play area in his honour. Within the park, the equipment is wooden and there are two play areas for older kids and one for tots, ensuring that all kids won't be left out of the fun. For toddlers, the play area has two baby swings, a basket swing, a small slide and a balancing unit. While the older kids can enjoy using the two normal swings and the gigantic multiplay unit that symbolises the Giant of the garden. Parents can enjoy a lovely walk in the park that is full of gorgeous flower beds and sculptures, including the colourful statue of Oscar Wilde, after the kids are done playing at the play area. Throughout the park, there are loads of benches and picnic areas for the family to relax and eat their meals before moving on. Every Thursday, there is a lunchtime market in the park that runs from 11.30 to 2pm, offering a vast selection of delicious treats and lunches. And on Sundays, the park railings turn into an Open Air Art Gallery where several artists exhibit and sell their own works. In the area, there is the Natural History Museum and the National Gallery of Ireland, ensuring the visitors won't be stuck for things to do. And the best thing is that the history museum is free of entry, meaning you wouldn't have to pay a single dime for your little excursion with the family. RAVING REVIEWS Locals and visitors took to TripAdvisor and shared their thoughts on Merrion Square Park, with one person raving that adults can even have some fun as well. One person wrote: "Great park! Lots of natural beauty, landscape, sculptures, etc. "Very nice paths for walking and definitely a quiet place in the city. Very well maintained." Another person added: "Merrion Square and the park is a really great area. "The playground is by any standard really amazing. Well laid out and sizeable. Adults could have fun!" The third person said: "This playground fits in well to its surroundings as most of the fixtures are made from wood and it is placed in a spot in the park that is at its lowest so it's well protected. "It is covered in wood chippings so it's also environmentally friendly too." 6 The park is a dedication to Oscar Wilde 6 The play areas are inspired by the story The Selfish Giant Credit: Alamy