Saint Anne's Park, Victorian folly in Clontarf East, Ireland
Saint Anne's Park is a Victorian landscape featuring twelve stone decorative structures scattered across 240 acres between Clontarf and Raheny in Dublin. The grounds include sports facilities, tennis courts, and woodland paths connecting the various follies.
The land was part of the Guinness family estate until Dublin Corporation purchased it in 1939 and converted it into public parkland. This transformation preserved the Victorian structures while opening the space to the community.
The Red Stables Art Centre operates in restored brick buildings where artists create and exhibit their work regularly. A farmers market gathering local producers happens weekly, connecting visitors with the neighborhood's creative community.
The park is accessible during daylight hours with multiple entrances and parking areas throughout the grounds. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes as paths wind through wooded sections and the follies are spread across the expansive terrain.
The grounds hide unexpected structures including a Roman tower and a Pompeian-style temple connected by woodland paths. These eccentric buildings were an expression of Victorian landscape design and still surprise visitors expecting a conventional green space.
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