Fusiliers' Arch, Dublin, Besucherguide & was in der Nähe unternehmen

Fusiliers' Arch is the granite gateway at the north-west corner of St Stephen's Green in Dublin, at the top of Grafton Street. It was built as a memorial to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers who died in the Second Boer War, and it has long been one of the city's most recognisable entrances to a park. Today it is also a handy meeting point, with a statue of folk singer Luke Kelly just along South King Street.

The story behind it

The arch dates from the early 1900s and honours soldiers of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers who were killed in the Boer War of 1899 to 1902. It is modelled on the Arch of Titus in Rome, and the names of the fallen are carved into it. Because it commemorates a British regiment, it was controversial among Irish nationalists, and Dubliners gave it the nickname Traitors' Gate. The name has stuck, and it tells you as much about the politics of the time as the monument does.

A few steps away on South King Street sits a more recent landmark. A life-size seated bronze of Luke Kelly, by the sculptor John Coll, was unveiled in January 2019 to mark 35 years since the singer's death. Kelly was born in Dublin in 1940, left school at thirteen and went to England in 1958, where he found the folk revival in the clubs. He co-founded The Dubliners in 1962 and became one of Ireland's best loved folk singers. He collapsed on stage at the Cork Opera House in 1980, was found to have a brain tumour, and died on 30 January 1984, aged 43.

What to look for

• The three-part arch is built of granite and takes its form from a Roman triumphal arch, which looks quite unexpected at the corner of a Dublin park.
• The carved names of the fallen soldiers sit on the monument, and reading them shows how personal the memorial was meant to be.
• The Luke Kelly bronze on South King Street shows him seated, so you can sit beside him and picture him about to sing.
• Through the arch, the first view of St Stephen's Green's paths and trees makes a good contrast with the busy street outside.

Tips for your visit

• Allow ten to fifteen minutes for the arch and the Luke Kelly statue, more if you then wander into St Stephen's Green.
• You cannot go inside the arch, but you can walk through it into the park, and viewing it from the street costs nothing.
• Morning is quieter, while late afternoon light is kind to the granite and the bronze.
• Grafton Street, the Gaiety Theatre and the shops and cafes of the area are all a short walk away, so it combines easily with a city centre stroll.

See it on a quest

Romantic Dublin: Cupid’s Quest Walking Tour & Escape Game passes this corner of the city. You reach the arch on foot as one stop on a longer route, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group, which suits couples or friends.

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Dublin suits anyone who likes a darker take on the city. You walk between places, hear what each one is about when you get there, and work out a puzzle in the streets in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.

Dublin Detective Mystery: Infiltrate a Secret Society. is a detective-style walk that takes in the arch and the streets around it. The app guides you from stop to stop, tells you about each place, and sets a puzzle in what you see. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever you like.