Bram Stoker Park

I randomly found this little sister, to Fairview, of a park one day when I was looking around the new neighborhood that I had moved to.
At the time I didn’t know the name of it nor that Bram Stoker had even lived in Dublin, much less just 15 minutes from where I had set up camp myself.
Very near the intersection of a few main roads and just across from the Clontarf Road DART Station, this «semi-​private» little park is surrounded by a stone fence high enough to block out most of the noise from the constant traffic of cars, buses and trucks.
If you’re in the vicinity, come check it out.

Dracula author Bram Stoker lived on Marino Crescent, the row of tall Georgian houses directly opposite this park and you could be forgiven that this round little oasis is purely for residents. However, it is very much public and a nice little summer retreat with the usual tree, benches and grass, always less busy than its big brother across the road, Fairview Park. There can be a few dodgy characters skulling cans, so it’s best to bring a friend after dusk.

Bram Stoker Park is not one of the northside’s better known parks. In fact, although I pass it on the bus about 10 times in an average week and am an occasional visitor, I did not find out the name of the park until reading Jo’s review (cheers Jo).
Jo’s right i that the park is reminiscent of one of those little squares in Paris where only the residents have keys to get in. This confusion as to the private/​public ownership of the park is somewhat of a blessing, as it means that the park is always nice and empty. And even though Bram Stoker sits at the junction of three busy roads (the Malahide, Coast and Howth Roads) and even though every bus route in north-​east Dublin goes past it, the trees block out the noise of the passing traffic.
So, Bram Stoker park is a bit like having your own private park spitting distance from the city centre. And it’s real easy to get to: across the road from Clontarf Road Dart Station, or get any of the dozens of buses that go up the Howth or Malahide Roads. Definitely worth going out of your way for.

Secluded, crescent-​shaped park in Marino. The Bram Stoker Park is a continuation of Fairview Park (across the road) and is named after the writer himself, who was born at No. 15 at The Crescent.
One could be forgiven for thinking this is a private park for the residents of The Crescent — it certainly has that look about it, and unlike the busy Fairview Park, very rarely has many visitors.
The park is surrounded by a high stone fence which nicely blocks out the noise of passing traffic, so this park is actually a bit of a sanctuary from the surrounding commuter craziness.
Great place to take a book and chill out… who knows, you may get the park all to yourself?