Oscariana: A Wilde Dublin Festival

Tour the childhood home of Oscar Wilde

Please see the bottom of this page for directions and for accessibility concerns.

Oscar Wilde House

There are two ways to visit Oscar's childhood home, located at One Merrion Square North, directly facing Oscar's famous statue. You can either book a ticket for the special guided tours or attend the house during opening hours (see below) on Saturday and Sunday.

It was within these walls that the young Oscar took his first steps and where he was educated for the first ten years of his life. As a teenager Oscar attended the nearby Trinity College Dublin and lived at home for his first year at college.

Oscar’s parents, Lady Jane Wilde (the poet Speranza) and Sir William Wilde, were famous long before Oscar made his mark on the world. The Wilde household was renowned as a centre of culture in Victorian Dublin for 21 years.

The Oscar Wilde House is also the modern-day location of American College Dublin.

Opening Hours of the House

SATURDAY, October 14th, 1-4 pm (last admission 3:15 pm)

SUNDAY, October 15th, 4-7 pm (last admission 6:15 pm)
Admission €10 at the Door ( Cash or Card)

During Oscariana, Oscar Wilde House will be open to the public for walk-in visitors at the times above. Visitors see a 20-minute movie on the history of the Wilde household, which focuses on Oscar's childhood here and his extraordinary parents Sir William and Lady Jane (Speranza). There is an information sheet that guides visitors around the exhibits in all of the rooms on the four floors, including Oscar's nursery at the top of the house.

Gerard Byrne:
Artist in Residence

Oscar Wilde House is incredibly proud and thrilled to have a series of works displayed around our house which show the genius of painter Gerard Byrne. Gerard is a Dubliner with an incredible talent and huge reputation as one of Ireland's leading contemporary artists.

Art in Action:

Sunday, October 15th

Visitors to Oscar Wilde House on Sunday, October 15th, will have the opportunity to see Gerard Byrne in action, painting in the Orangerie. This room, which houses the sculpture of Oscar Wilde by Melanie Le Brocquy, was added to the building in 1861 by Sir William Wilde, Oscar's father.

Guided Tours

Our guided tours are accompanied by the Oscar Wilde House creative director, Martin Burns. The tour lasts approximately one hour and 20 minutes. As you explore its rooms and staircases, you will hear the fascinating history of the colourful Wilde family. There are tales of heartbreak, tragedy, intrigue, court battles and scandal.

You will visit Sir William Wilde’s library and the upstairs dining room where the family hosted parties for many famous visitors over a 20-year period. The main lounge, which overlooks Merrion Square, is where Lady Jane Wilde, aka Speranza, held her celebrated salons every Saturday. The extension, which Sir William constructed after the family moved into the building in 1854, houses his medical consultation room.

Reviews of Guided Tour

‘If you thought Oscar was wild, wait till you hear about the rest of the family, in this astounding, accurate and almost tangible evocation of the uproarious Wildes at home.’ … Philip Hoare (Author of Wilde’s Last Stand).
“This is a gem of a place and Martin who runs the tour is such a great enthusiast and storyteller …. Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet)
‘What an amazing journey! Thank you.’ … Amber Heard (actress)
“Amazing guided tour, thank you! … P Cafonni (Italy)
“Wonderful! A lifetime experience. What a talent. What a place. Thank you, thank you!” … Julia Dolado and Nelson Figueredo
“Thank you for 90 minutes of awe and wonder!” …Sofia Meisburger (Washington DC).
“Had a Wilde time in Dublin. 10/10. Would recommend.” …. Astrid Merotieta
“Nearly crying, what a wonderful tour. Thank you.”… Sheila du Toit

Saturday Guided Tour
with Martin Burns

Saturday, October 14th at 5pm

Book tickets

Sunday Guided Tour
with Martin Burns

Sunday, October 15th at 7:30pm

Book tickets

Accessibility

Please note that Oscar wilde House is committed to making the house accessible to everyone. It is a listed building so we do not offer ramps for disabled access. It is something that we intend to rectify in the future as we make plans to offer an additional entrance from the rear of the building. The house is as it was when it was built in the 1760s, therefore there is no lift between the floors. We hope with the advent of funding that we can provide access to all who wish to visit us.

Speranza's Salon is on the 1st floor and Oscar's Bedroom is on the third floor.

Oscar Wilde House
One Merrion Square North
Dublin, Ireland D02 NH98

https://oscarwildehouse.com/