If you are visiting Ireland and spending time in Dublin. I highly recommend visiting the Clontarf…read morePromenade. I personally have known this area going back to the 1970's. You get great views of Dublin , Dublin Mountains and you can see Bray Head on a clear day. Amazing place for running , walking and cycling.. Great restaurants, pubs and stores also in the vicinity of the promenade. Be sure to visit Veron Avenue and walk out to Bull Island. This promenade rates 5 stars and more. You definitely won't be disappointed. It should be noted I am from Washington DC and served with the United States Marines all over the World and traveled all over the United States of America. I definitely know a great promenade from all my travels and life experiences

I so love this promenade. Walking or running along here on a sunny day is one of those experiences…read morethat truly reminds you of the joy of life's simple pleasures. It's completely free and you can't help but feel better about the world afterwards. This is a fantastic running spot-it's flat, scenic, safe....and even more importantly-you get to run on grass. Pavement running can be tough on sensitive souls like me and it can be a struggle to find nice shock absorbing grass without ending up in a field full of cows and their excrement. Generations (probably) of runners have worn a little path into the grass all along the promenade so that it's both easy to run on and free of ankle-twisting potential. Just walking along is one of my favourite pastimes too. On a sunny weekend the place is buzzing with families, buggies, couples, walkers, runners, men with flags, picnickers....but doesn't seem crowded. The excellent cycle lane which extends to Howth means that there is no danger of being mown down. Benches and shelters along the route make it easy to stop and soak up the view. I love the weird yellow and orange exercise things. I plan on making use of them some day....when nobody is around to see! A stroll out to Bull Island is invigorating and it's very difficult to believe that you're still in Dublin out there. The only problem is having to come back over the bridge and back to reality :-(

This is the second biggest park in Dublin…read more This is by far my favorite park in Dublin! It's super big, spacious, dog friendly, with dog parks, with a nice kids playground, football (soccer) areas, flower garden that's open every other Saturday, and they also have a cafe named Olive Room Cafe in the center that's open daily. Additionally, they also have a market and food trucks every Saturday (except new years). I often go here with family to relax and enjoy a nice beautiful walk throughout the park

It being our last day and night in Ireland we wanted to relax, spend the night in a castle, and…read moremaybe take a stroll. Lucky for us, St. Anne's Park was nearby and was the perfect place to unwind. Others have already talked about the long history of this park and how vast (266 acres) it is. So I will just say that it's beautiful and worth the visit. I especially liked the Rose garden and I don't feel all girly for saying it. I swear the actual rose garden area was more length and width then a football field. Each bundle of roses were as bright and colorful as if they just blossomed. I couldn't even come close to pronouncing half of their names but it was kind of cool to learn that they had some instead of you know Red, Yellow, so on. Oh and a red squirrel tried to take my hat, watch out for those little thieves!!

Secluded, crescent-shaped park in Marino. The Bram Stoker Park is a continuation of Fairview Park…read more(across the road) and is named after the writer himself, who was born at No. 15 at The Crescent. One could be forgiven for thinking this is a private park for the residents of The Crescent - it certainly has that look about it, and unlike the busy Fairview Park, very rarely has many visitors. The park is surrounded by a high stone fence which nicely blocks out the noise of passing traffic, so this park is actually a bit of a sanctuary from the surrounding commuter craziness. Great place to take a book and chill out... who knows, you may get the park all to yourself?

I randomly found this little sister, to Fairview, of a park one day when I was looking around the…read morenew neighborhood that I had moved to. At the time I didn't know the name of it nor that Bram Stoker had even lived in Dublin, much less just 15 minutes from where I had set up camp myself. Very near the intersection of a few main roads and just across from the Clontarf Road DART Station, this "semi-private" little park is surrounded by a stone fence high enough to block out most of the noise from the constant traffic of cars, buses and trucks. If you're in the vicinity, come check it out.

This public park is outstanding! It is such a gem in the suburbs of the Northside of Dublin…read more Firstly, it is huge and spans from Clontarf and goes into Raheny. There are entrances from all sides. It is mainly a pedestrain park but there is an entrance for cars on Mount Prospect Avenue in Clontarf, but i think this is limited access only. There are fabulous walking routes around the park. The Rose Garden is beautifully maintained and a very serene place to be with plenty of benches to sit and relax. There is also a great childrens playground down the back of the park. There are also many football pitches around the park that are well maintained. There are also tennis courts up the Raheny end of the park as well as a pitch and putt green. It is a great place to bring the kids, to go for a walk, to take the dog or to just get a break away from the hectic Dublin life!

Bull Island is somewhat of a geographical oddity, as it is a sandspit, but one that extends out…read morefrom a man-made object. Bull Island is (in geological terms) a very recent addition to the Dublin coastline. Early in the nineteenth century, the Bull Wall was constructed in order to stop Dublin Port from silting up. An unforeseen side-effect of this decision was that the silt began to deposit against the Bull Wall, at a rate that within fifty years, a sizeable sandspit had built up, which is what we know today as Bull Island. Evidence of the island's growth over time is to be found just behind the sand dunes: at one point on the island, there is a submerged Lifeguard's hut. When it was built, this structure would have been just yards from the sea; now it half-submerged, and a line of sand-dunes blocks it's view of the water. It's difficult to imagine that a landmass of this scale could grow from nothing to the island's present size in less than a hundred years. The island is big enough to contain a wildlife reserve, two golf clubs, a scouts den, a load of sand dunes and miles of gently sloping beach. The wide, flat beach is very pleasant to take a stroll along on a sunny day, and the area behind the sand dunes is great to do some cross-country training. There are a lot of rabbits to be seen behind the dunes as well, and keep an eye out for the seals that sunbathe on the landward side of the island's tip. No doubt there's loads of stuff that I am leaving out but Bull Island is a fantastic amenity, and a place well worth checking out.

One of my favourite things about Dublin is it's parks. You're never too far from one in the city…read morecentre. Two DART stops or a quick stroll and your surroundings go from grey to green. Bull Island nature reserve / beach / geographical wotsit is one of the best places for a long walk in Dublin. The new dunes and views are beautiful, there's wildlife everywhere, and it's well set up for dog-walks too. Just perfect.

This Victorian park is over 29 acres and has lush greens and florals as far as the eye can see…read more There's a lake and a play are for kids. There's even a garden for visually impaired folks. Lots of sculptures and monuments for James Joyce and others. The lake has a waterfall. Fantastic area to picnic, hang out with friends, and people watch.

This beautiful park (known for remaining green throughout the year) is a great place to spend a day…read moreoutside without leaving central Dublin. It's been enjoyed by locals and visitors since 1880 when Arthur Edward Guinness re-opened it as a public park after it served as a private community for the wealthier residents of Dublin for more than century (Just like Merrion Square Park) The 22-acre park is a Dublin treasure and an oasis of calm away from the hustle and bustle of downtown city life. When weather permits, you should do as the locals do and stretch out on the grass for some rest and relaxation, or grab a picnic lunch. Immaculate flowerbeds fringe the lawns. The green space is also home to several monuments dedicated to some of Ireland's most important figures, including James Joyce and Arthur Edward Guinness. The park is located in St. Stephen's Green Square; the main entrance is through the Fusiliers' Arch, at the top of Grafton Street

After dinner near Glasnevin and heading to Drumcondra station, I had the pleasant experience of…read morewalking through Griffith Park. It's hard to believe that this was once a landfill because today it is a peaceful and very pleasant walk through trees and along smooth pavements. I very much enjoyed my walk here. Thanks, Dublin! [Review 1823 of 2024 - 82 in Republic of Ireland - 22845 overall]

This park has the wonderful location of being en route to the Botanical gardens and the river Tolka…read moreruns through it creating a lovely riverside walk. It covers the two neighbourhoods of Glasnevein and Drumcondra. The park is just over 7 hectares in size. The park has a fine selection of trees, a beautiful flower garden, and a popular playground. There is also a new pedestrian bridge. Great spot for a picnic or to have your lunch before catching a game at Croker.

Dublin 6 doesn't lack green spaces (Dartmouth Square, Mount Pleasant Square and Belgrave Square are…read morewithin five minutes' walk), but few are as secluded as this one. Economic with the use of backlands beside the Luas station and between Victorian lanes and 1970s apartment blocks, the park is an elongated pond with some pleasantly leafy spaces at either end. Come in and feed the ducks, the pigeons, even what looked like a water vole when I was in there... Maybe opt to get a take-away from Diep Noodle Bar and feed yourself too. Like any good city park, it manages to feel sufficiently open and enclosed all at once.

You have to pass under a massive stone arch to reach this place, and the result is a "secret…read moregarden" feeling. At first. Deeper, the park opens up a good bit and is overlooked by apartment blocks. So the secret is spoiled. But in return you get a lake sporting swans, ducks, and surprisingly large fish. I'll call it a fair trade. If you can catch a few moments of sunshine, this is a reasonably nice spot to grab some lunch. There are benches set around the water, but people tend to prefer the grass embankments that rise away from the pond. From up high it feels like you are in a stadium where people have gathered to watch to geese settle their differences. So, that's fun.

I walk through Fairview Park every day without fail. It's a lovely expanse of greenery which…read morebridges the gap between North Strand and Clontarf (the gap being the suburb of Fairview). The park has a fairly substantial playground area, so is ideal for families. There's also lots of space so you could claim a whole area of the park for a family picnic, rather than just the tuft of grass you'd be allowed at Stephens Green. Tree-lined pedestrian and bike pathways traverse the park, which makes it a popular route for commuters and cyclists on their way into the city or out to Clontarf Promenade. There is always something interesting to see in Fairview Park - last week I witnessed an awe-inspiring tai chi session, and on occasion I've stopped to watch hurling matches and boot camp training. It's not really a 'destination' park, but if you happen to be in the area, it's definitely worth taking a picnic.

There are far too many pit bulls off the lead for my liking - out for a walk, one rogue one jumped…read moreup at us, barking manically. "Don't worry," called his prone owner from his position on a hillock. "He won't do anything to you, he's grand." I would hate to see either of them on a bad day. The need for constant vigilance aside, there are plenty of playing pitches and basketball courts for the sports-minded, as well as pleasant tree-lined paths for those out for a stroll.

A temporary installation - only here till Sept 2012…read more ARRRRGH me harties, come yea to the bouncy castles of Dundrum and bounce till you see your breakfast again. The cost is reasonably reasonable... 5Euro per child for 1 hours bouncing, jumping and sliding. The zorbing and boating involves an extra 3 euro a pop and a bit of queuing, junior thought it worthwhile. Parents go free but it is frowned upon if they actually use the facilities (there isn't a sign specifically saying "no short, fat, balding men allowed on the bouncy castle", but it is implied).

My companion here suggested that the Pirate Village should have an 'Adult Only' session after the…read morekids go home... bringing me to my only gripe with this place- that the grown-ups can't go on any of the cool stuff! Apart from that however, this is an unusual and entertaining way to amuse younger children for an hour or so. Conveniently located in Dundrum town centre, it costs €5 per child, with its adult(s) going free. A session is about an hour long. So, you enter into a 'pirate village' themed maze of bouncy castles, little slides, giant slides, boat-bumpers etc, etc... with staff members shouting, 'Arr me hearties!!...' The kids go demented. Now, if you could just lock them all in for an hour and come back afterwards... A point to note is that some of the things have a 5-10 minute queue and a few extra quid surcharge. We brought my three year old godson, who loved it, despite getting trampled on in the various bouncy castles by some bigger kids. He went on the smaller slide about 20 times, a boat ride (didn't want to get out of it!), and the giant slide, which he really enjoyed despite finding the 5 minute queue a little frustrating. Bribed by chocolate to get back into his buggy at the end, he then collapsed in an exhausted heap (could I jump up and down for an hour? Doubt it!) and we returned him to his mother, who'd had a coffee and stroll around the shops unencumbered by a hyper child. Then we went for a well-earned and much-needed pint round the corner.