IPUT Real Estate completes the restoration of Wilton Park in Dublin and opens a new square, Mary Lavin Place.

A new public square in Dublin has been created by IPUT Real Estate to commemorate the life and work of acclaimed Irish writer, Mary Lavin (1912-1996).

Launched today by Laureate for Irish Fiction, Colm Tóibín, Mary Lavin Place is the centrepiece of the recently completed Wilton Park development and park overlooking Dublin’s leafy Grand Canal between the bridges of Leeson Street and Baggot Street in Dublin 2.

Mary Lavin Place is the first public space in Ireland named in honour of an Irish female writer. The new square links Lad Lane– where Mary Lavin lived at No. 11 for many years – to Wilton Park which has been carefully restored by IPUT and reopens to the public today.

The area surrounding Wilton Park is an important part of the city, a neighbourhood with deep literary connections. Known as ‘Baggotonia,’ it was here where some of the greatest Irish writers lived and worked including Patrick Kavanagh, Brendan Behan, Eavan Boland, Brian O’Nolan, Liam O’Flaherty, Elizabeth Bowen, John Montague, Derek Mahon, Thomas Kinsella, Ben Kiely, JP Dunleavy, John Banville and Anthony Cronin.

The recent development of the Wilton Park estate incorporates four new headquarter workplaces, soon be home to LinkedIn, Stripe and EY. New street level restaurants are set around Mary Lavin Place and the newly restored one-acre park, in addition to three new artist studios, and a writer-in-residence apartment.

According to Niall Gaffney, CEO, IPUT Real Estate Dublin:

The act of naming a public place is an important responsibility as it will carry a certain identity for years to come. Mary was one of the most influential writers of her generation, a pioneer of women’s writing in the 1950’s. We hope Mary Lavin Place will introduce new readers to her work, inspire a new generation of female writers, and attract visitors to this vibrant part of our city.

According to Colm Tóibín:

Mary Lavin was a pioneering figure, a genius who walked among us. Her style was deceptively simple and seemed effortless. Her writing mattered, she made a huge difference to our culture and our society.

I first met Mary when I was in UCD with her daughter, Caroline Walsh, and I was immediately drawn to her warmth and hospitality. I loved to hear how many drafts each story went through. It made a difference to me to know that this business of writing was, and always would be, hard work.

According to the Lavin family:

The grandchildren of Mary Lavin are delighted to support the naming of Mary Lavin Place at Wilton Park. This important new public space for Dublin is a very welcome recognition of Mary’s contribution to literature and marks her significance as one of Ireland’s great writers. IPUT’s decision is especially apt given that Mary once lived immediately behind the site, with her young family, in a mews at 11 Lad Lane where Mary would often entertain her contemporaries from the world of literature.

Wilton Park

From today, visitors to the one-acre Wilton Park will be able to enjoy the original Victorian fountain, new seating, lawns, paths and planting intended to enhance biodiversity and offer neighbours access to a beautiful city park all year round. It will also be a public space for exhibitions, music and arts events.

Additionally, IPUT has commissioned a commemorative sculpture by Irish artist Eilis O’Connell R.H.A. for the park entitled ‘Dipping the Other Wing,’ a line taken from one of Mary Lavin’s short stories, ‘One Evening’ (1967).

Other Details

Since 2019, IPUT has hosted fifteen established and emerging Irish artists and has included three permanent studios at Wilton Park, partnering with the Royal Hibernian Academy to offer these spaces rent-free to artists.

The new 7-metre covered street linking Lad Lane to Mary Lavin Place features a statement ceiling by stained glass artist James Earley.