Oscar Wilde Memorial in Dublin, Ireland
Some say culture is in the air when visiting a foreign place. In Dublin, you might say it’s firmly planted along the parks and streets. That’s because there’s a story for every statue strewn about the heart of Ireland’s capital—beginning with well-known stories attached to the likenesses of literary legends. For instance, there’s a very life-like James Joyce, author of Ulysses and the short story collection Dubliners, proudly standing on North Earl Street. And in Merrion Park, just a stone’s throw from Dublin’s infamous Trinity College, you’ll find a rather unconventional statue of Oscar Wilde. The controversial writer’s statue sprawls lazily across a rock, dressed in a bright green jacket with hot pink lapels! (I’d say that’s a photo opp.)
And, of course, there’s a little nod to history. Also on your walk down Dublin’s main drag, greet a number of Ireland’s political figures such as Daniel O’Connell, for whom the street was named. Known as The Liberator for the key part he played in fighting for Catholic rights in the 19th century, O’Connell’s figure is topped by angels standing proud above his namesake monument.
There’s the historical, and then there’s the modern. Check out the Spire of Dublin that strikes a very contemporary pose. Standing some 400-feet tall, this stainless steel tapering cylinder juts out smack in the middle of a busy traffic area. Must be why the locals call it The Stiletto in the Ghetto. (Of course you couldn’t get far in Ireland without a rhyme or two.) In fact, many of the statues have quirky and affectionate rhyming nicknames. See if you can recognize The Hags with the Bags, The Crank on the Bank and the Ace with the Bass. If you do, you’ll surely share a laugh with the locals.