Bushy Park is a mature suburban park of roughly 50 acres on Dublin’s southside, set between Terenure, Rathfarnham and Templeogue. The River Dodder runs along its southern edge. Dublin Corporation acquired the former Shaw family estate in the 1950s, and today local families, dog walkers and runners use it as a green space anchored by woodland and the riverside.
Most visitors start at the ornamental pond, where swans, ducks and moorhens draw toddlers with bread-free bird feed. Shaded paths lead from there under beech, oak and chestnut down to the Dodder, where herons and the occasional kingfisher work the water. The children’s playground is the park’s busiest corner. Open lawns, football pitches and public tennis courts fill the rest of the grounds, and weekend league matches give Saturday mornings a lively, local energy. The woodland trails stay quiet even on busy days and suit an unhurried loop of 30 to 45 minutes.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Weekday mornings bring the calmest paths. Sunny weekend afternoons and school holidays crowd the playground. Gates follow Dublin City Council park hours, opening in the morning and closing around dusk, so check posted times in winter. Entry is free. Several Dublin Bus routes run along Templeogue Road and Terenure Road West, and Terenure village’s cafés lie about ten minutes’ walk away. For a longer outing, follow the Dodder riverside paths toward Rathfarnham and Orwell Park.
