While it’s not in the most peaceful part of the city, Croppies Memorial Park is a nice little feature and great for a break from the otherwise grey façade of one of the busiest intersections in town. I didn’t know much about the park until I started researching for Spotted by Locals and was surprised to learn that it was built as a memorial to the Irish rebels who died in the 1798 United Irishmen Rebellion.

The park has also been home to the Anna Livia sculpture since 2011 when she was moved from where she used to sit on O’Connell Street in the place of the Spire. Anna Livia is a spirit, a goddess of rebirth and renewal; her long flowing hair symbolises the flow of the nearby river. She arrived to the park (very fittingly) by boat, travelling down the River Liffey at lunchtime before arriving at her new home. She is fondly known as ‘Floozie in the Jacuzzi’ to locals.

The park was closed for a number of years due to unsociable behaviour but was reopened in 2016 and has been taken great care of by the city ever since. Each summer there are fresh bursts of summer blooms planted and the beautiful Anna Livia looks as pretty as ever. If you plan to catch a train from Heuston Station (a 2-min walk), Croppies is a great place to enjoy an alfresco lunch before you leave.