Editing Merrion Square (section)

==Park==
[[File:Merrion_Square,_Nov_2017.jpg|thumb|Merrion Square Park]]
The earliest plan of the park shows a double line of trees around the perimeter which was later enclosed by railings in the early years of the 19th century. A [[English landscape garden|Jardin Anglaise]] approach was adopted for the layout of the park with contoured grass areas, informal tree clumps, sunken curved paths and perimeter planting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dublincity.ie/main-menu-services-recreation-culture-dublin-city-parks-visit-park/merrion-square-park|title=Merrion Square Park – Dublin City Council|date=22 May 2018 }}</ref>

Up until 1974, the park was only open to residents in possession of a private key. Now managed by [[Dublin City Council]], the park contains a statue of [[Oscar Wilde]], who resided in No. 1, Merrion Square from 1855 to 1876,<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.academia.edu/4042930|title=Sculpting Irishness: a discussion of Dublin's commemorative statues of Oscar Wilde and Phil Lynott |first=Smith |last=Sarah|journal=Sculpture Journal|volume=21|year=2012|access-date=16 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dublincity.ie/DublinArtInParks/English |title=Oscar Wilde Memorial Sculpture |publisher=Dublin City Council |access-date=19 May 2017 |archive-date=16 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516145543/http://www.dublincity.ie/DublinArtInParks/English |url-status=dead }}</ref> many other sculptures and a collection of old Dublin [[Street light|lamp standard]]s. Irish-American sculptor [[Jerome Connor]], best known for his work "[[Nuns of the Battlefield]]" in [[Washington D.C.]], designed the public art piece, "Eire".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.itma.ie/about/future-of-the-archive |title=Archived copy |access-date=27 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502160858/http://www.itma.ie/about/future-of-the-archive |archive-date=2 May 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The park also contains a sculpture of a Joker's Chair in memory of ''[[Father Ted]]'' star [[Dermot Morgan]].{{sfn|Bennett|2005|p=169}}

The park in the square was called "Archbishop Ryan Park", after [[Dermot Ryan]], the [[Archbishop of Dublin (Roman Catholic)|Catholic archbishop]] who transferred ownership to the city. In 2009, Dermot Ryan was criticised in the [[Murphy Report]]; in January 2010, Dublin City Council sought public views on renaming the Park.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0112/1224262120662.html |title=Councillor denies call to rename Archbishop Ryan Park |last=McGarry |first=Patsy |date=12 January 2010 |newspaper=The Irish Times |access-date=12 January 2010 |archive-date=19 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019141903/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0112/1224262120662.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In September 2010, the City Council voted to rename the park as Merrion Square Park.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0915/1224278896831.html | newspaper=The Irish Times | title=City park to be renamed Merrion Square Park | date=9 September 2010 | access-date=31 October 2010 | archive-date=22 October 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022104524/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0915/1224278896831.html | url-status=dead }}</ref>

The park was also used by the St John Ambulance Brigade for annual events such as reviews and first aid competitions. The organisation was founded in 1903 by Sir [[John Lumsden]] KBE MD. During this time Dr Lumsden was living nearby at 4 Fitzwilliam Place. He was the chief medical officer at the Guinness Brewery and practised at Mercer's Hospital.

During the First World War, both St. John Ambulance and the British Red Cross Society worked together in a joint effort as part of the war effort. This ensured services did not overlap with each other. Both organisations were a familiar sight among Irish people, particularly at Merrion Square where St. John Ambulance operated for almost 50 years. The headquarters of St. John Ambulance was situated at 40 Merrion Square during WWI later moving to 14 Merrion Square. Today they are located at Lumsden House, 29 Upper Leeson Street, Dublin 4 (see St John Ambulance archive for further info).