An overlooked corner of Herbert Park has been transformed into a space for stillness, while a landmark bandstand that had fallen into serious disrepair has been brought back to life.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Ray McAdam, visited the park last Tuesday (31st) to mark both developments and to acknowledge the work of Donnybrook Tidy Towns and Dublin City Council’s Parks staff.
The new Peace of Mind Garden has turned what was previously an underused area into a calm and reflective space, with carefully designed steps, seating, planting and landscaping creating a place where visitors can pause and switch off from the pace of the city.
The visit also marked a significant moment for one of the park’s most recognisable features, the Herbert Park bandstand, which has undergone a detailed restoration programme after years of deterioration.
Pictured at the Herbert Park bandstand are from left, Cllr David Coffey, Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Ray McAdam and Cllr Rory Hogan
Although often linked to the Irish International Exhibition of 1907, the bandstand currently in Herbert Park is not the original structure.
The larger exhibition bandstand was sold in 1908 and relocated to Bray seafront, where it still stands today.
The existing structure dates from around 1911 and forms part of Ernest Cheal’s Edwardian design for the park.
With its Arts and Crafts styling, octagonal form, timber columns and terracotta tiled roof, the bandstand has long been a familiar part of Dublin’s public spaces.
It also holds a place in the city’s cultural memory, having featured in the 1982 music video for “Old Town” by Phil Lynott.
By 2024, however, the structure had fallen into serious disrepair, with issues including slipped roof tiles, water ingress, rotting timber, blocked gutters and wider structural concerns.
Dublin City Council commissioned 7L Architects to prepare a Conservation Method Statement, following the principle of doing as little as possible, but as much as necessary.
The restoration works included replacing missing clay tiles, repairing the roof structure and timber soffits, reinstating hardwood railings based on early photographs, restoring the decorative finial and repointing the granite base using lime mortar.
A discreet French drain was also installed to prevent future water damage, and the original gate was recreated using historic images.
The works were carried out by Barbary Roofing and Conservation Ltd.
Speaking at the event, Councillor Ray McAdam said, “Today, the Peace of Mind Garden and this beautifully restored bandstand stand as lasting expressions of why investment in our parks matters so profoundly.
“This is about more than bricks, stone, timber or design.
“It is about recognising the cultural life of our public spaces, their social importance, and the history and memory they hold for generations of Dubliners.
“One offers a place of quiet reflection, calm and renewal.
“The other offers a place of gathering, performance and celebration.
“It gives me great pleasure now to officially open the restored Herbert Park Bandstand, a place shaped by our past, valued in our present, and ready to serve and inspire generations yet to come.”