Park Life

Big gardens attached to houses near Dublin city centre are a rarity these days. All the gardens have been cut in half sold off for development. There are lovely large houses all over Dublin 4 with tiny yards called "town gardens" in the back and a couple of ugly town houses squashed in at the end where the garden or the mews for the horses used to be.

Most of us haven't lived in a house with a proper garden since the 1970s. Gardens are great for kids to play in until they hit about 13 or 14. After that they want to be out with their friends, hanging around town, listening to music and sulking in their rooms.

There's a house for sale on Park Avenue in Sandymount at the moment that has a 400 foot long garden. There's a tennis court at the end that you can't see from the main house that could be a great place to hide out or have a bit of peace and quiet. If your husband or wife was into gardening he or she might disappear for days at a time to grow food and become organic and slightly feral.


In the absence of a garden that makes a game of football meaningful regular trips to Herbert Park are necessary for small boys.

Herbert Park is practically deserted early in the morning. It's a pleasant place to go for a walk after dropping children to school. There are ducks, squirrels and seagulls that will fly along beside you if you are brave enough to jog.

For the children there's a new astro turf pitch that's used by the local schools and football clubs and Park's tennis that costs €15 (because it's sponsored by KitKat) for eight weeks of coaching so you don't feel guilty if you miss a week.

Park life means that a visit to the playground is a social event. You are guaranteed to meet friends, acquaintances and work colleagues. Therefore you can't go to the newly revamped playground frequented by the stylish mums who live in the cachement area in a ratty track suit. There is an essential dress code.


Last Winter everyone had lovely long padded jackets with fur trims and huge sunglasses. This Spring I've noticed that Converse All Star runners have made a comeback worn with distressed denim and longish slighly tailored t-shirts.

The proper accessories are cool clothes and cute kids. Once those are in place you find that big people are on their best behaviour. Aggressive behaviour is rewarded in the workplace but frowned upon in the Park.

Playgound politics require parents to be consensual and co-operative. Therefore normally grumpy work colleagues are in smiley Mummy and Daddy mode. Everyone has to be in a good mood because you can't throw tantrums when you have toddlers with you who will do it for you.

If you don't have a child a dog will do. If you don't have a dog put on your running shoes and grab a piece of park life, it will grab you!