Marlay Park

Marlay Park is a 300 arce (85 hectars) suburban public park located in Rathfarnham in the administrative county of Dún_Laoghaire-Rathdown, Co Dublin, Ireland. Lying about 10 km (6 miles) from Dublin city centre. The parkland comprises woodlands, ponds, walks and recreational space that include a nine hole par 3 golf course, tennis courts, BMX cycle track, 14 football pitches, childrens playground, miniature railway run by the Dublin Society of Model and Experimental Engineers and a craft courtyard with home craftshops and coffee shops. Since 2000 Marlay Park has become a popular music venue featuring both renowned national and international stars for an audience of around 12,000 concertgoers. The park was acquired by Dublin County Council in 1972 who developed the land as a regional park. Opened in 1975, it is now administered by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. Dublin Bus serves the park directly with the 16 bus, but the following buses are within walking distance: 14, 14A and 48A directly to the city centre. The 75 bus goes to Dún Laoghaire.

Marlay House

The house that stands in the grounds of Marlay Park was built by Thomas Taylor and was known as ‘The Grange’. David La Touche, first governor of the newly established Bank of Ireland acquired and extended the house in 1764 and renamed it after his wife Elizabeth Marlay. The house, a fine example of Georgian architecture, has many elaborate features including plasterwork of Michael Stapleton. Marlay was sold in 1864 to Robert Tedcastle, a well known Dublin coal merchant, whose family lived there until 1925 when Philip Love bought the house for £8,325. Love, a market gardener who was once Ireland's largest tomato producer, was also a racehourse breeder whose famous horse Larkspur won the 1962 Epsom Derby. He lived there until 1972 when it was sold to the Dublin County Council.

A walled garden, built near the house around 1794, is 4.5 acres and consists of a restored regency ornamental and kitchen gardens. The ornamental garden boasts an extensive display of period plants, ranging from herbaceous borders to shrub beds. The Head Gardener's house, orangery, arbor and water features combine to create a distinctive atmosphere. Located just over the wall, the kitchen garden houses a fine collection of regency fruit trees, vegetables and associated bothys.

In the summer months daily tours of the house and gardens are available; by appointment at other times. Tea, coffee and other refreshments are available in the former gardener’s house.

Marlay Craft Centre

A number of small craft industries are located in the courtyard adjacent to Marlay House with a range of crafts exhibited including, weaving, glass cutting, bookbinding, furniture restoration, copper craft, pottery, jewellery and embroidery.

Wicklow Way

Marlay Park is the northerly point of the 132 km Wicklow Way, an Irish long distance walking trail, that begins at the car park adjacent to Marlay House. The trail wanders through the delightful sylvan surroundings of the park, before tunnelling under the M50 motorway to begin the walk's first ascent southwards towards the Dublin hills and the first of several forest vistas on its way southward over the Wicklow Mountains to Clonegal, County Carlow. The Wicklow Way website estimates walkers allow 7 hours for the first 21km section to Knockree.

Marley Grange

Marley Grange is, one of several, housing developments adjacent to Marlay Park developed in the 1970s with five roads named Marley; Avenue, Drive, Walk, Close and Grove. Residents assume the developer misspelled the name when naming the roads and nothing has ever been done to correct the error.

Concerts

Partial list of performers

2000: Samantha Mumba, Madasun, Naimee Coleman, Birth, 4 Of Us, Girl Thing and Relish

2001: Van Morrison, Sting, David Gray, Westlife

2002: Santana, Pogues, Bryan Adams, Paul Weller, The Proclaimers, The Saw Doctors, Picture House, Meat Loaf and UB40

2003: Paul McCartney, Eminem and R.E.M.

2004: Dido, The Frames and The White Stripes

2005: Coldplay, The Chemical Brothers, Basement Jaxx, Underworld and Mylo

This article is licenced under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Marlay Park".