Phoenix Park (Irish: Páirc an Fhionn-Uisce) is the largest enclosed urban public park in Europe[1][2] located 3 km to the north west of Dublin city centre in Ireland. It measures 712 hectares (1,760 acres), with a walled circumference of 16 km that contains large areas of grassland and tree-lined avenues. The park has been home to a herd of wild Fallow deer since the seventeenth century. The name is a corruption of the Irish fionn uisce meaning "clear water".[3]
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History
After the Normans conquered Dublin and its hinterland in the 12th century Hugh Tyrell, 1st Baron of Castleknock, granted a large area of land, including what now comprises the Phoenix Park, to the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem. They established an abbey at Kilmainham on the site now occupied by Royal Hospital Kilmainham. The knights lost their lands when Henry VIII confiscated monastic properties in 1537 and eighty years later the lands once more reverted to the ownership of the King's representatives in Ireland. On the restoration of Charles II, his Viceroy in Dublin, Lord Ormonde established a Royal Hunting Park which contained pheasants and wild deer, therefore it was necessary to enclose the entire area with a wall. It was opened to the people of Dublin by Lord Chesterfield in 1745.
Significant features
Áras an Uachtaráin
The residence of the President of Ireland (Áras an Uachtaráin) built in 1754 is located in the park. Originally named the Viceregal Lodge where the Lord Lieutenant lived for most of the intervening years until the creation of the Irish Free State in 1922.
Zoological Gardens
Dublin Zoo is one of Dublin's main attractions. It houses more than 700 animals and tropical birds from around the world is located in the park. The zoo was founded in 1830[4] and opened to the public on 1 September 1831, with animals from the London Society, making it the third oldest zoo in the world. Within a year the zoo housed 123 species.[5]
Papal Cross
The Papal Cross was erected for the visit of Pope John Paul II in September 1979. Over one million people attended an open air mass in the park at the time.
Monuments
The Wellington Monument (also known as the Wellington Testimonial) is a 63 metres (210 ft) tall obelisk commemorating the victories of Duke of Wellington. It would have been even higher if the publicly subscribed funding had not run out.
The phoenix monument is a Corinthian column with a Phoenix bird rising from the ashes at its pinnacle. It was erected by Lord Chesterfield in 1747.
Deerfield Residence
The Deerfield Residence was the former residence of the Chief Secretary for Ireland. It has been the official residence of the United States Ambassador to Ireland since 1927.[6]
Phoenix Park 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 and it is located beside the Visitor Centre which houses interpretive displays on the 5,500 years of park and area history.
People's Gardens
The Gardens located close to the Parkgate Street entrance, comprise an area of 9 hectares (22 acres) and, were re-opened in 1864. These gardens were initially established in 1840 as the Promenade Grounds. They display Victorian horticulture including ornamental lakes, children's playground, picnic area and bedding schemes.
Other places of interest
The headquarters of the Irish national police force, the Garda Síochána, are located in the park. It also contains several sports grounds for football, hurling, soccer, cricket and polo.
The National Ambulance Service College is located at Saint Mary's Hospital on the Chapelizod side of the park.
The State Guest House, Farmleigh, adjoins the park to the north-west. The south western corner of the park is known as the Furry Glen and has a series of short walks centred around a small lake with birds, plants and wildlife.
The park is featured prominently in James Joyce's novel, Finnegans Wake, and tangentially in Ulysses. It is occasionally used for open-air concerts and the annual Phoenix Park Motor Races.
Nature & Biodiversity
Among the 351 different plant species to be found in the Park there are three, which are rare and protected. The Park has retained almost all of its old grasslands and woodlands and also has rare examples of wetlands.[7] Deer were introduced into the park in the 1660s; the current 400-450 fallow deer descend from the original herd.[8]
Motor racing
Motor racing first took place in the Phoenix Park in 1903 when the Irish Gordon Bennett Race Speed Trials were held on the main straight for both cars and motorcycles. This was followed in 1929 by the Irish International Grand Prix; the first of three Irish motor racing grands prix.[9] Racing took place between 1932 until the beginning of World War II in 1939 and was revived again in 1949 with a sprint on the Oldtown circuit[10] followed the next year by a full racing meeting again and has been used virtually continuously until today. Over the years seven different circuits have been used, two of which are named after the famous Ferrari World Champion racing driver Mike Hawthorn.
Irish International Grand Prix winners
| Season | Date | Race Name | Location | Winning Driver | Chassis | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1929 | 12 July | I Irish Grand Prix (Saorstát Cup) | Phoenix Park |  Boris Ivanowski |
Alfa Romeo 6C | Alfa Romeo |
| 1929 | 13 July | I Irish Grand Prix (Éireann Cup) | Phoenix Park | Boris Ivanowski |
Alfa Romeo 6C | Alfa Romeo |
| 1930 | 18 July | II Irish Grand Prix (Saorstát Cup) | Phoenix Park | Victor Gillow | Riley 9 Brooklands | - |
| 1930 | 19 July | II Irish Grand Prix (Éireann Cup) | Phoenix Park |  Rudolf Caracciola |
Mercedes SSK | Mercedes-Benz |
Concerts
The park has played host to music concerts over the years including Coldplay, Duran Duran, Robbie Williams, Red Hot Chili Peppers, U2, Ian Brown, Justice, Kanye West, Arcade Fire and Tom Waits.
See also
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References
- ^ "Phoenix Park". Encyclopedia Britannica Online. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/457208/Phoenix-Park. Retrieved 2008-07-27.
- ^ Richmond Park in London, England is larger in area at 955 hectares (2,360 acres) but is a suburban royal park.
- ^ Phoenix Park, Castleknock, Clonee and Dunboyne
- ^ "About the Zoo - Zoo History". Dublin Zoo. http://www.dublinzoo.ie/inside.asp?pageId=2§ionId=2&level=1. Retrieved 2009-05-10.
- ^ Kilfeather, Siobhán Marie (2005). Dublin: a cultural history. Oxford University Press. pp. 115–116. ISBN 0195182014. http://books.google.com/books?id=8QWZRVAPa6sC&pg=PA115.
- ^ "Ambassador's residence". Embassey of the United States: Dublin - Ireland. http://dublin.usembassy.gov/index/embassy-news/ambassador/ambassadors-residence.html. Retrieved 2009-03-11.
- ^ "Nature & Biodiversity". Office of Public Works. http://www.phoenixpark.ie/about/naturebiodiversity/. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
- ^ "Fauna". Office of Public Works. http://www.phoenixpark.ie/about/naturebiodiversity/fauna/. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
- ^ PhoenixParkMotorRaces.org The Event (retrieved 7 March 2007)
- ^ Phoenix Park race tracks (retrieved 7 March 2007)
External links
- Official site
- Architecture of key park buildings
- Map of greater Dublin showing the placement and size of the Phoenix Park. It is the large green area west of the city centre, above the word "Kilmainham".
- Satellite Photo of the Phoenix Park
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