Irish Cultural Garden

Address:
1201 Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Cleveland, OH 44108
Architect/Designer:
Original concept: Donald Gray, Renovations/Additions:James McKnight & Charlene Crowley
Sponsoring Organization:

Irish Garden Club

Dedication Date:
1939
Contacts:

charcrowleyclp@gmail.com


History & Design:

The Original landscape design centered on sandstone walkways in the shape of Celtic Cross and bordered by planting beds and lawn. Recent additions to the garden include The Fountain Plaza and the Writer’s Recognition Court with pathways and retaining walls of matching sandstone.

Statuary/Busts/Reliefs/Monuments:
Victor Herbert 1859-1924 Composer,Conductor. Co -Founder of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) and influenced the creation of The Copyright Act of 1909
Samuel Beckett 1906-1989 Avant-Garde novelist and playwright. 1969 Nobel Prize – Literature
James Joyce 1882-1941 Novelist and poet, considered to be one of the most influential writers in the modernist avant-garde of the early 20th century. Joyce is best known for Ulysses (1922)
Edna O’Brien 1936- Contemporary novelist, memoirist, playwright, poet and short story writer. The Country Girls (1960)
Sean O’Casey 1880-1964 Dramatist and memoirist. He was the first Irish playwright of note to write about the Dublin working classes. Juno and the Paycock (1924)
George Bernard Shaw 1856-1950 Playwright, novelist. Pygmalion 1925 Nobel Prize – Literature
John Millington Synge 1871-1909 Playwright, poet, and collector of folklore. He was a key figure in the Irish Literary Revival and was one of the co-founders of the Abbey Theatre. He is best known for his controversial play The Playboy of the Western World, 1907
William Butler Yeats 1865-1939 Poet and one of the foremost figures of 20th century literature. He was a key figure in the Irish Literary Revival and was one of the co-founders of the Abbey Theatre.

1923 Nobel Prize – Literature

Brendan Behan 1923-1964 Poet, short story writer, novelist, and playwright who wrote in both English and Irish. Borstal Boy (1958)
Frank O’Connor 1903-1966 Prolific author of mainly short stories and memoirs. The Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award is named in his honour.
Seamus Heaney 1939-2013 Poet, playwright, translator and lecturer, and the recipient of the 1995 Nobel Prize – Literature.
Padraig Pearse 1879-1916 Founder and instructor at St Edna’s School. Author of stories and poems in both Irish and English. “The Wayfarer” (1913)
Thomas Moore 1779-1852 Poet, Songwriter. “Tis the Last Rose of Summer” inspired Donald Gray in the selection of roses for the Irish Garden.
Other Features:
1939 Dedication Threshold Stone Dedication in Gaelic. “For the greater glory of God and Ireland”
Cleveland’s Own Shannon River Sign at the south end of the garden near Doan Creek bridge
Crabapple Tree Alee Walkway lined by dedicated trees
Replica of a fountain in Dublin
Map: