Spring has sprung… allegedly.
If you’ve walked through Herbert Park lately, chances are you looked up. Maybe just for a second. And there they were. Cherry blossoms. Bunched along the branches like someone got drunk and papered the trees in pink. Too pretty for a city; too soft. Too transient.
They hit around mid March most years. By April, the place is buzzing with cameras and coffee cups. Clusters of white and pink flowers burst out of the bare trees like they’ve been holding their breath all winter. You don’t need to be sentimental to be stunned by it. You just need eyes.
No cherry tree is native to Ireland. Not one. They’re imports. Part of the rose family. Brought in for decoration. Garden jewellery. They grow fast, bloom quick, and don’t live much past seventy. If they were people, they’d be the kind who peak in college.
Back in the fifties and sixties, planners were planting cherry trees all over the suburbs. Trying to pretty up the sprawl. But they didn’t leave enough room. Cherry roots are shallow and wide. They don’t stay where they’re told. Over time, they cracked the pavements and lifted the kerbs. And now, councils are ripping them out like rotten teeth. Joe McConville from the Tree Council of Ireland says it was never malicious. Just bad planning. A bit of wishful thinking. Copying the Brits. Dreaming of orderly rows of spring blossom on narrow roads with no space for wild roots.
Still. They feed the bees. Beetles too. Birds eat the sour little fruits. Moths chew the leaves. But when they flower, they feed the soul of humanity. Jesus do they put on a show. Maybe that’s why people love them. They burn bright and vanish fast. The petals fall like confetti and it’s over. Wind comes in, rain follows, and all that softness gets washed into the drains.
The Japanese have a whole ritual for it. Hanami. Sitting under cherry blossoms, drinking, thinking about how everything ends. We do it the Irish way. Stand in the park with a takeaway coffee. Scroll a bit. Snap a photo. Housman had it right over a hundred years ago. You don’t get that many springs. You’d be a fool not to stop and look.
So take the long way to work. Walk through the park. Look up. They’re blooming. In spite of the concrete, in spite of the planners. In spite of us. And maybe that’s enough.
So here are some of the best spots for you to visit those cherry blossoms in Dublin.
9. Suburban Estates
While I can’t find a hard and fast list of where cherry blossoms festoon our red bricked suburbs I am pretty sure they punctuate many. There’s no official map, no neatly curated list, no cherry blossom trail with QR codes and civic pride. But you don’t need one. Just wander any leafy suburb built around the sae time as Terenure. The pinks and whites are out there. You’ll find them in front gardens, outside old schools, wedged between semi-Ds and lampposts. Planted decades ago by someone who probably just wanted a bit of colour come spring. And fair play to them.
8. Marsh’s Library
Everyone bangs on about Marsh’s Library like it’s some hidden gem, but let’s be honest — it’s already well loved by book nerds and Instagram addicts alike. And fair play, it earns the attention. Still, what most people miss is what’s just outside.
Right now, cherry blossoms are exploding against the stone of the old library walls. Pink on grey. Soft on stern. It’s the kind of contrast that stops you mid-step, even if you’ve seen it a hundred times on someone else’s feed.
Forget the filters. This bit’s the real magic.
7. Trinity College
College Green, Dublin 2
While Trinity is also a hot-spot for tourists and locals alike with its Harry Potter-esque grounds, spring is one of its prettiest seasons as the cherry blossoms come out to make the college campus even more stunning than normal. Go in for a gander next time you’re in town, whether you’re checking out the Book of Kells Experience, or just looking for somewhere lovely to sit for 20 minutes.
6. Herbert Park
Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
If you’re in the Dublin 4 area, Herbert Park is a stunning spot for a stroll, particularly if you’re in the mood to see some beautiful cherry blossom trees. When the weather gets a bit warmer, this is also a perfect spot for a picnic, a stroll, and even some shopping if you happen to pass by on a Sunday when their Farmer’s Market is on.
5. Irish National War Memorial
Islandbridge, Dublin 8
Just a short stroll away from Kilmainham is the Irish National War Memorial Garden. Set along the banks of the Liffey, visitors can watch rowers practising their moves alongside ducks and swans going about their business. Keen walkers or cyclists can walk all the way to Chapelizod, on this lovely path along the river. The park also has some beautiful sunken rose gardens designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and of course, the beautiful cherry blossom, for a limited time only.
4. St Stephen’s Green
Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2
If you dare face the wrath of the seagulls, St. Stephen’s Green is simply beautiful this time of year for their glorious cherry blossoms. This makes it an ideal location in Dublin for a gorge Instagram story or pic for the ol’ photo dump carousel – all you’ll have to sacrifice is half your sambo to the residential gulls.
3. National Botanic Gardens
Glasnevin, Dublin 9
It should be no surprise that you’ll find a stunning view of some cherry blossoms at the National Botanic Gardens, alongside some other stunning flora. Best of all? The grounds are free to roam, making this a great option for a spring walk, be that on a solo hot girl stomp, or a coffee and catch-up with friends.
2. Farmleigh Estate
Phoenix Park, Dublin 15
Based in the Phoenix Park, Farmleigh Estate is home to some beautiful cherry blossoms, and opens daily from 10.00 to 17.00. It is managed by OPW, and home to a donkey sanctuary as well as a herd of Kerry Black cows.
1. Christ Church
Wood Quay, Dublin 8
Christ Church is based in this particularly picturesque corner of Dublin, alongside a stunning cherry blossom tree, providing a fabulous juxtaposition between the grey architecture and pink petals. Essentially, it’s a very pretty spot to perch and enjoy for a few moments, or longer should you have the time.
Make sure you catch these Dublin cherry blossoms before they’re gone again for another year.
Header image via Canva
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