Fanlights at Night

I am very lucky to live in Georgian Dublin- right around the corner from Merrion Square in fact. One of my most favourite spots in Dublin not least because it has some of the most spectacular architecture in Dublin, was home to literary and artistic greats, has a secret 18th century garden, a mix of businesses, residences and cultural institutions and a beautiful green haven of a park- which interestingly I learned from Emily Westbrooks of the blog From China Village and Pól Ó Conghaile’s book Secret Dublin  has a selection of lamp-posts which are part of a living exhibit put together by the Dublin City Council to highlight the various lamp post styles throughout the decades.

At this time of year the square takes on its own unique beauty- when darkness falls I always walk slowly by the windows of houses on Merrion Square to catch a glimpse of the plaster-work ceilings and the light filtering out of the half-moon fanlights.

Tomorrow sees a hive of activity on the square from early morning with many of the houses opening their doors for the day from the RIAI, the Irish Traditional Music Archive and the College of Anaesthetics, The Royal Society of Antiquarians in Ireland and The Goethe Institute. who will be hosting a range of fabulous activities from an Irish Design Shop pop-up shop (featuring amongst many amazing designers Heather Finn) in the RIAI, a Wildean Salon in Oscar Wilde’s house, a pop-up cafe by Coppa Cafe of the RHA in Number 63 and further events continuing into December with a Carol Service in the Pepper Canister Church on 16th of December.

With all of this Merrion Square love I made a little Vine video of those fanlights by night and look forward to the festivities on the magnificent Merrion tomorrow.

See all the details of the Merrion Square festivities here