| Marlay Park | |
|---|---|
| Páirc Mharlaí | |
 Awaterfall in Marlay Park | |
  Marlay Park  Marlay Park | |
| Type | Suburbanpublic park |
| Location | Rathfarnham,Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown,Ireland |
| Coordinates | 53°16′23.827″N6°16′7.912″W / 53.27328528°N 6.26886444°W /53.27328528; -6.26886444 |
| Area | 86 hectares (210 acres)[1] |
| Operated by | Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council |
Marlay Park (Irish:Páirc Mharlaí) is a 121 hectares (300 acres)suburbanpublic park located inRathfarnham inDún Laoghaire–Rathdown,Ireland. Lying about nine kilometres (5.6 miles) fromDublin city centre, the parkland comprises woodlands, ponds and walks. Recreational spaces include a nine-hole, par-threegolf course (reopened in 2010 after redesign and rebuild),tennis courts, sixsoccer pitches, fiveGAA pitches, a cricket pitch,a dog park, two children'splaygrounds and aminiature railway run by the Dublin Society of Model and Experimental Engineers.[2] There is also a craft courtyard with home craft shops and a coffee shop.
Dublin County Council acquired the land in 1972 and developed it as a regional park. Opened in 1975, it is now administered byDún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council.[3]Dublin Bus serves the park directly with the 16 bus, but the following bus is within walking distance: 14 directly to the city centre. The 75 bus goes toDún Laoghaire.[4] Since 2000 Marlay Park has become a popularmusic venue with a maximum capacity of 40,000[5] featuring both renowned national and international performers.The park's name is commonly misspelt as Marley, most notably in nearby housing developments (see below).
The park occupies part of the original Marlaydemesne which has its origins in the early eighteenth century. Thomas Taylor acquired about 12 hectares of land and built a house called 'The Grange'. David La Touche, a slave owner[6] and first governor of the newly establishedBank of Ireland, formerly the La Touche Bank, acquired the property in 1764 and extended the house. He renamed it for his wife Elizabeth Marlay, daughter ofGeorge Marlay,Bishop of Dromore.[3] The La Touches developed the property, rebuilding the house and outbuildings and enlarging the extent of the demesne by acquiring adjoining land in 1776, 1777 and 1785. At its greatest extent, the property amounted to 158 hectares.[7] The house, a fine example ofGeorgian architecture, has many elaborate features including plasterwork byMichael Stapleton.
Marlay was sold in 1864 toRobert Tedcastle, a well-known Dublin ship owner and coal merchant.[3] He named one of his ships 'Marlay', which sank off Howth in 1902 with the loss of 15 lives. His family lived there until 1925 when Robert Ketton Love bought the house for £8,325. He lived there until his death in 1939. His son, Philip Love, a market gardener who was once one of Ireland's largest tomato producers, was also aracehorse breeder whose famous horseLarkspur won the 1962Epsom Derby. He died in August 1970 and in 1972 it was bought by Dublin County Council for £500,000.[3] The park was officially opened byTaoiseach,Liam Cosgrave on 29 June 1975.A 1.82 hectares (4.5 acres) walled garden was built near the house around 1794, and consists of restoredregency ornamental and kitchen gardens.[3] The ornamental garden boasts an extensive display of period plants, ranging fromherbaceous borders to shrub beds. The Head Gardener's house,orangery,arbour 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 associatedbothies.
Daily tours of the gardens take place during the summer months and by appointment at other times. The former gardener's house offers refreshments year round.
A number of small craft workshops are located in the 18th centurystable yard adjacent to Marlay House including,weaving,glass cutting,bookbinding,furniture restoration,copper craft,pottery,jewellery andembroidery. One of these was originally the residence ofEvie Hone whose stained-glass workshop was located in the library of Marlay House itself.
Marlay Park is the official starting point[8] of the 132 kmWicklow Way along-distance walking trail, that begins at the car park adjacent to Marlay House. The trail wanders through the park before tunnelling under theM50 motorway to begin its first ascent southwards towards the Dublin hills and theWicklow Mountains toClonegal, County Carlow.
Severalhousing developments adjacent to Marlay Park contain roads named "Marley": Avenue, Drive, Walk, Close, Grove and Wood. Early ordnance survey maps also use the same spelling, as does at least one local road sign.
Since 2013, Marlay Park has been home toLongitude Festival, which takes place during July each year.[9] When the festival first started in its early years the line up was mostly bands and singer songwriters such asPhoenix,Kodaline, andSam Smith.[10][11] As the festival evolved in later years it mostly consisted of hip hop artists such asStormzy,Travis Scott, andSki Mask the Slump God.[12][13] In 2022, after a three-year hiatus due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, the festival returned with acts such asASAP Rocky,Megan Thee Stallion,Tyler, the Creator andJack Harlow[14]
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During the Summer months the park holds many concerts and events, some of the more popular artists have been:Guns N' Roses,Red Hot Chili Peppers,[15]Foo Fighters,Green Day,Radiohead,Muse,The Killers,Westlife,Van Morrison,Sting,David Gray,Meat Loaf,UB40,The Waterboys,R.E.M.,Oasis,Coldplay,The Chemical Brothers,Basement Jaxx,Underworld,Metallica,Nine Inch Nails,Macklemore and many others.
| International | |
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| Geographic | |
