People's Park, Dún Laoghaire

People's Park is a public space located near Dún Laoghaire Harbour with winding paths, fountains, and a central bandstand for performances. The grounds include a children's playground, seating areas, and a dedicated Garden for the Blind with specialized walking trails designed for tactile exploration.

A Martello Tower originally stood on this site in 1805 as a coastal defense structure. Before becoming a park in 1890, the land served as a quarry until local authorities acquired and transformed it into public grounds.

The name reflects a philosophy of creating shared spaces for ordinary people. Today visitors see locals gathering here with family and friends, particularly for the Sunday markets that bring the grounds to life throughout most of the year.

The park is easily reached on foot from nearby Sandycove and Glasthule train stations, with entrances on Summerhill Road and Park Road. Mornings offer quieter moments, while Sunday afternoons bring crowds for the markets, so plan your visit timing based on whether you prefer solitude or activity.

The tearooms sit within an extended Victorian shelter that was carefully restored by architects Howley Hayes to maintain its original character. Today the building still displays period design details that reveal how the structure evolved from a simple seating shelter into a functioning refreshment space.