Dublin walk · Stop 2 of 7
Oscar Wilde Memorial — Merrion Square
Bram knew the Wilde family within Dublin’s overlapping literary and social circles. Oscar Wilde also courted Florence Balcombe before she married Bram in 1878. The memorial therefore introduces a connection between the two writers’ lives and families, although the sculpture itself dates from 1997 and is not something Bram saw.
Look closely at the materials and expression. Osborne describes a jade jacket, a face that smiles on one side and appears sad on the other, and bronze figures of Constance Wilde and Dionysus opposite. The inscribed pillars bring Wilde’s words into the memorial. Richard’s photograph is a useful companion for spotting these details in person.
Enter the north-west corner of Merrion Square Park. The memorial is outdoors; check park opening.
