Editing Merrion Square (section)

== History ==
[[File:Merrion Square map (1762).jpg|thumb|Merrion Square map (1762)]]
The square was laid out in 1762 to a plan by John Smyth and Jonathan Barker for the estate of [[Richard FitzWilliam, 7th Viscount FitzWilliam|Viscount FitzWilliam]]. Samuel Sproule later laid out the East side around 1780 and the gardens were created through a competition won by Benjamin Simpson in 1792 thanks to drawings created by [[John James Barralet]]. All of the surrounding houses were largely complete by the beginning of the 19th century.<ref>{{cite web |title=CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, MERRION SQUARE Dictionary of Irish Architects - |url=https://www.dia.ie/works/view/36961/building/CO.+DUBLIN%2C+DUBLIN%2C+MERRION+SQUARE |website=www.dia.ie |access-date=26 July 2023}}</ref>{{sfn|Bennett|2005|p=168}}<ref>{{cite web |title=BARKER, JONATHAN - Dictionary of Irish Architects |url=https://www.dia.ie/architects/view/1649/BARKER-JONATHAN |website=www.dia.ie |access-date=26 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Beaumont |first1=Daniel |title=Sproule, Samuel - Dictionary of Irish Biography |url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/sproule-samuel-a8215 |website=www.dib.ie |access-date=26 July 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, MERRION SQUARE, GARDENS Dictionary of Irish Architects - |url=https://www.dia.ie/works/view/49148/CO.+DUBLIN%2C+DUBLIN%2C+MERRION+SQUARE%2C+GARDENS |website=www.dia.ie |access-date=26 July 2023}}</ref>

Before the [[River Liffey]] was fully contained, floods on a high tide could reach as far as the square. In 1792, during one such event, the [[Duke of Leinster]] [[Augustus FitzGerald, 3rd Duke of Leinster|Augustus FitzGerald]] managed to sail a boat from [[Ringsend]] through a breach in the river wall as far as the north-east corner of Merrion Square (where it meets Holles Street).{{sfn|Dublin Tourism|page=9}}

During the [[Great Irish Famine]] of the 1840s, [[soup kitchen]]s were set up in Merrion Square Park to help feed the citizens.{{sfn|Dublin Tourism|page=8}}

The demand for such Georgian [[Townhouse (Great Britain)|townhouse residences]] south of the [[River Liffey]] had been fuelled by the decision of the then [[Earl of Kildare]] (later the [[Duke of Leinster]]) to build his Dublin home on the then undeveloped [[Southside, Dublin|southside]]. He constructed the largest aristocratic residence in Dublin, [[Leinster House]], second only to [[Dublin Castle]].

Aristocrats, bishops and the wealthy sold their northside townhouses and migrated to the new southside developments.