How’s this for a story? Can you see a private garden in the middle of Fitzwilliam Square? You can see the houses all around it, but the garden is only for the special people who live there. It is a little bit of a secret, but not really – because everyone knows about Fitzwilliam Square. It is one of the most famous squares in Dublin. In the 18th century, people were eager to have a house in a nice square. It was all about being fashionable. So what could be more fashionable than a beautiful garden, with trees and greenery, right in the middle of Dublin? This is where Richard Fitzwilliam, the 7th Viscount Fitzwilliam, came in. He was the one who made Fitzwilliam Square what it is today. He designed the square and even gave his name to it.
It was a challenge to build this square, though. You see, it was the last of the Georgian squares to be built in Dublin. It was tricky because building was slowed when Ireland and England were united. There was no money anymore, so the rich people left for London. Now that makes Fitzwilliam Square even more unique! It’s a reminder of a different time, when Dublin was a booming city with a flourishing economy. But what is even more special is that the garden stayed private. Only the residents and people with a key can enter. It’s an exclusive club. I just like to imagine all the people who have been in this garden over the years.
Some of them were very famous, like Jack Butler Yeats, a famous painter. Imagine that you are in his studio, surrounded by his paintings. You could see the city from his window. He was a special resident of Fitzwilliam Square. To this day, Fitzwilliam Square is a place of beauty and elegance, and you can feel the grandness of its history.