Did the angels always sound so…enthusiastic? Here at the Angel Fountain, the trumpets held by the four bronze figures practically blast you with their watery symphony. The Angel Fountain, also known as the Four Angels Fountain, is more than just a whimsical water feature. It’s a powerful piece of Dublin’s history, nestled right here in College Green. The fountain, designed by Edward Delaney, forms part of the larger Thomas Davis Memorial. It depicts four heraldic figures, representing the four provinces of Ireland: Leinster, Munster, Ulster, and Connacht. They’re not just randomly blowing trumpets. They’re proclaiming a poem, “A Nation Once Again,” by the very man the memorial commemorates, Thomas Davis. He was a key figure in the 19th-century Irish nationalist movement. Now, look closer at the base of the fountain. See those panels? They depict scenes from the devastating Irish Famine of the 1840s, a stark reminder of a dark chapter in Ireland’s past. These images are juxtaposed with scenes from Davis’s poetry, creating a powerful narrative of struggle and hope. Interestingly, this spot wasn’t always home to angelic trumpeters. It once held an equestrian statue of William III, which met a rather explosive end. It was bombed several times before being finally destroyed in 1946. Today, the Angel Fountain serves as a popular meeting point, a subject for photographs, and, it seems, a target for student pranks. Legend has it, they enjoy adding dish soap to the fountain, creating a bubbly spectacle. So, next time you find yourself at the Angel Fountain, listen closely to the watery notes of the trumpets. Remember the history they proclaim, from famine and struggle to the enduring hope of “A Nation Once Again.”
Saint John the Evangelist
Whispers of history echo from these stones. This is the site of Saint John the Evangelist. Once a vibrant church