It is one of the largest urban enclosed parks in Europe, with a circumference of 11 Km (7miles) and a total area of 712 hectares (1760 acres).It is situated 3 Km (2miles) west of the city centre.
Phoenix Park is one of the most impressive legacies of our Georgian Heritage containing a number of stately homes, including the official residencies of the President of Ireland, Aras an Uachtarain and the residency of the U.S. Ambassador.
A Walk in the Park.
So what’s to see? Well, quite a lot actually. Here’s a quick summary of the main sights.
It has ornamental gardens, nature trails, and broad expanses of grassland separated by avenues of trees including oak, beech, pine , chestnut and lime. Livestock graze peacefully on pasturelands, deer roam the forested areas, and horses romp on polo fields.
Phoenix Park was founded in 1662 as a royal hunting park by Lord Ormonde. A large herd of fallow deer still remain to this day.Lord Chesterfield made the park available to the public in 1745.
The park is open to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year round . The park provides an excellent service to the public where both passive and active recreational pursuits may be viewed or pursued including Nordic walking, running, polo, cricket, GAA football, hurling, rugby, walking the dog, picnics, etc.
The name Phoenix Park was derived in error from the Gaelic“Fionn Uisce”, which means "clear water". The source of this water is a natural spring near the park's central monument, the Phoenix Column, a tower that displays, coincidentally, a phoenix (bird) at its top.
The Phoenix Monument
The phoenix monument is a Corinthian column with a Phoenix rising from the ashes at its pinnacle.It was erected by Lord Chesterfield in 1747. During the early part of the twentieth century, it was moved from the centre of the avenue to the side to facilitate motor-racing. The OPW moved it back to its prominent position during the 1990s.
Aras an Uachtarain
Áras an Uachtaráin is the Official Residence of the President of Ireland.
It was formerly the Viceregal Lodge until independence in 1922.
The original house was built by Park Ranger Nathaniel Clements in 1751. In 1782 it had been acquired for use by the Viceroys who oversaw British rule in Ireland, with Nataniel Clements receiving £25,000 for the house.
In 1938 it became the Official Residence of the President of Ireland and has been used for that purpose since.
In the 1840s formal gardens were designed and laid out by Decimus Burton.
Over the years, many improvements have been made during visits of the reigning monarch, notably the addition of the East Wing in 1849 for the state visit of Queen Victoria; and the extension of the West Wing for the visit of George V in 1911.
By the way, the name is Gaelic. It is pronounced “orras un ookhtarawn” which means “the president’s building”.
American Ambassador’s Residence
Ireland has a long association with the United States, and the Ambassador has been provided with this magnificent building right in the heart of the Phoenix Park.
A grand set of entrance gates and mature trees and shrubbery obscure the main house, but it can be glimpsed from the southern parkland.
This house is surrounded by sixty two acres of ground and was completed in 1776. It was built by Col. John Blaquiere, Chief Secretary of the British government and Bailiff of the Phoenix Park.
The house of Col. Blaquiere, purchased by the British Government in 1782,was made the official residence of the Chief Secretary, and remained so until 1922 when Sir Homer Greenwood, the last holder left office. Among the prominent Chief Secretaries who had occupied this residence were Sir Arthur Wellesley, later to become the Duke of Wellington, Sir Robert Peel, Lord Castlereagh. Lord Bryce, later British Ambassador to the United States, W.FI. Smith. When the Duke of Marlborough was appointed Viceroy in 1878, Lord Randolph Churchill joined him as private secretary. Young Winston as a small boy, roamed the gardens and woods and took great delight in riding up and down the paths in his donkey and cart. Sixty nine Chief Secretaries lived here from 1776 until 1922 when Ireland gained it's independence.
The lower ground floor of the residence comprises a ballroom, reception and dining room, library, office, kitchens pantry, staff room and laundry. Six suites, bedroom, bathroom and dressing room), plus a sitting room are located on the upper floor. The Residence is furnished with furniture and equipment obtained in Ireland, the United States and many other countries.
Papal cross
In 1979, Pope John Paul II became the first pope ever to visit Ireland. Over 1.3 million people attended the mass in the Phoenix Park. This was the largest gathering of Irish people ever.
The large altar and cross used for the mass were left in place as a reminder of the occasion. You can climb the steps and get a panoramic view of the spot where this massive crowd of people gathered.
The Wellington Monument
Built to commemorate the victories of the 'Iron Duke' Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, who was born in Dublin, the memorial in the Phoenix Park is the tallest obelisk in Europe. It is 205 feet tall and was intended to be taller but for a shortage of funds. It was completed in 1861. There were also plans for a statue of Wellesley on horseback but the shortage of funds ruled that out.
There are four bronze plaques cast from cannons captured at Waterloo - three of which have pictorial representations of his career while the fourth has an inscription. The plaques depict 'Civil and Religious Liberty' by John Hogan, 'Waterloo' by Thomas Farrell and the 'Indian Wars' by Joseph Kirk.
The inscription reads:
Asia and Europe, saved by thee, proclaim Invincible in war thy deathless name, Now round thy brow the civic oak we twine
That every earthly glory may be thine.
The Visitor centre and Ashtown Castle
The oldest building in the park is Ashtown Castle, a restored medieval tower house dating from the 15th century.
Restoration began in 1989.
It is located beside the Visitor Centrewhich houses interpretive displays on the 5,500 years of park and area history. It was found hidden within the walls of a much larger and more recent building that was being used by the Papal Nuncio until 1978. At that time, the more recent buildings were deemed structurally irreparable due to dry rot. But as that was being demolished, Ashtown castle was re-discovered!
Farmleigh
Farmleigh is situated in the north-west corner of the Phoenix Park and is adjacent to the Chapelizod and Castleknock areas of Dublin. It covers an area of 79 acres and contains many beautiful features including the Main House, which is a fine example of Georgian-Victorian architecture, the Sunken Garden, the Walled Garden, the famous Clock Tower and the Lake.
Farmleigh provides premier accommodation and facilities to visiting dignitaries. In effect it is the State Guesthouse. Prior to this, it was the family home of the Guinness family, and much of the interior fittings and furnishing are on loan from the family
Zoo
Dublin's zoo is one of the oldest in the world. It is well known for assisting in the breeding of rare species. They are also particularly proud of their modern polar bear enclosure.
The zoo is constantly being changed and a visit is always a rewarding experience for young and old alike.
Furry Glen
The South-Western corner of the Park has a beautiful series of walks centred around a lake. It’s a really peaceful oasis with lots of birds, plants and wildlife.
Ordnance Survey Office
At one time this was a military barracks. There is still a small military presence there, but almost all of the staff are now civilians.
The main buildings date back to the early 1800’s. You can buy maps of anywhere in Ireland in all shapes and sizes (including maps of the Phoenix Park!).
If you arrange it in advance, you could bring a group on a guided tour to see the map-making process.
Ireland was probably the first country in the World to be properly surveyed and mapped, and you may get a chance to see some of the old equipment that was used. Nowadays it’s all computerised, and maps can be generated in minutes instead of years.
