The Oscar Wilde statue in Merrion Square, Dublin 2 shows Oscar reclining on a huge granite stone seemingly without a care in the world. The statue is positioned so that Oscar Wilde is looking at his old family home number 1 Merrion Square, on the north side of Merrion Square. On the other side of Merrion Square is Dail Eireann ( the Irish parliament).

The statue of Oscar Wilde was commissioned by the Guinness Ireland group and the sculptor was Danny Osborne, the process took almost two and a half years from conception to finish. Nothing was overlooked, Merlin Holland, Wilde’s grandson was the model used for the sculpture’s head! The two pillars which flank Oscar Wilde on both sides are used to set out his thoughts,opinions, witticisms on art and life for all to see and judge. These quotes were selected by a mixture of poets, public figures, artists, and scientists, who use Wilde’s own words to pay tribute to him.

Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde, who was born in nearby Westland Row in 1854. Wilde, who spent much of his adult life in England, is regarded as one of Ireland’s greatest literary figures. Until the late 1890s, owing to a gay affair which led to a prison sentence and disgrace, he was the darling of the upper classes, entertaining them with his wit and conversation.