Dublin's Phoenix Park

The Phoenix Park in Dublin was established in 1662 by James Butler (The Duke of Ormond). The park continues to be one of the largest enclosed recreational spaces within a European capital city.

Three times larger than Central Park in New York, the Phoenix Park is an oasis of green parkland with beautiful wild deer and many other attractions. The most unusual aspect of the amazing park is its location as its set in the middle of a very busy and cosmopolitan capital city.

The Pheonix Park is home to the Dublin Zoo, and Áras an Uachtaráin as well as some beautiful gardens and walkways.

The fallow deer were introduced into the park when it was established three hundred and fifty years ago, and remain a very successful herd in the park.

The Phoenix Park is hugely important for nature and biodiversity in Dublin. The park is home to 40% of all bird species in Ireland and 50% of all mammals.

There are 351 different plants species to be found in the park including three which are protected species. The Phoenix Park is also home the Dublin Zoo

The Wellington Monument

At sixty two meters tall the Wellington Monument is the tallest obelisk in Europe. The monument was designed as a testimonial to Arthur Wellesley the Duke of Wellington who is reputed to have been born in Dublin.

The Papal Cross

In September 1979 Pope John Paul II visited Ireland and delivered an open air sermon to 1.5 million people. This simple large white cross was erected on this site just before the pope’s visit. When Pope John Paul II died in 2005 several thousand laid wreaths at the base of the cross

The Phoenix Monument

Located in the centre of the park this impressive monument was carved in Portland stone. This monument is in the shape of a Corinthian column with a phoenix bird rising from the ashes at the top.

Áras an Uachtaráin is the residence of the President of Ireland. The house was built in the mid eighteen hundreds as a modest brick house for the Phoenix Park Chief Park Ranger. The house then became the occasional summer residence for the British Lord Lieutenant and evolved to a large mansion.

When Ireland gained independence around 1922 the Governors General took up residence in the house until it was occupied by the first President of Ireland Douglas Hyde.

The Phoenix Park is home to Dublin Zoo. Opened in 1831 Dublin Zoo is one of the oldest and most popular in the world. Many of the animals are rare species and their survival in the wild is under threat so they are part of an international breeding programme for endangered species.