The Phoenix Park in Dublin is the largest enclosed park in Western Europe. It has many items of interest, from the American Ambassador's residence to the zoo.
The Phoenix Park is the largest enclosed park in Western Europe. The main entrance is about 2 miles from Dublin's city centre. It is about 7 miles in circumference, so it takes a bit of effort to get around the whole park.
So what's to see? Well, quite a lot actually. Here's a quick summary of the main sights.
The 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.
Wellington Monument
The Wellington monument is the second tallest obelisk in the world, after the one in Washington. It is an impressive structure which depicts some of the great battles and conquests of the Duke of Wellington, including the famous victory at Waterloo in 1815.
Aras an Uachtaráin
This is Ireland's White House, the home and office of the President of Ireland. It can be seen from the main road which runs through the park, and you might just catch a glimpse of the President being whisked away to official duties in the presidential rolls royce escorted by a large motorbike cavalcade. By the way, the name is Gaelic. It is pronounced "orras un ookhtarawn" which means "the president's building".
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 alter 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 crown of people gathered.
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. Naturally it's well guarded, but you can catch glimpses of it through the trees.
Ashtown Castle
This has been turned into a visitor's centre since the mid 1990's. You can watch a video of the history of the Phoenix Park and see the excellent photographs of Irish life over the last 100 years.
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.
That's enough to keep anyone occupied for a day or more. But there's lots more in the park. There's a hospital, several quaint old houses, the People's Garden at the east end, the trees, the squirrels, and of course the deer. In fact, the deer have right of way on the roads through the park. Seeing the herd of fallow deer is an integral part of any visit to the park. You can usually find them near the open space in front of the Papal Cross.
The park is used for picnics, jogging, football (gaelic and soccer) and loads of other activities (but not camping, which would be very dangerous, especially after dark). The cricket and polo grounds provide a hint of empire dating back to the days of British rule. There's also some lovely views across the city from some parts of the park.
The Phoenix Park is well worth a visit. Just make sure you give yourself lots of time to savour it.
