Address
Phoenix Park,
Dublin 8, Ireland
Support
Phone: +353 1 677 0095 (general)
Phone: +353 1 820 5800 (Superintendent’s office)
Phone: +353 87 228 9698 (Park Rangers)
Email: phoenixparkvisitorcentre@opw.ie
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About Phoenix Park
One of the oldest landmarks of Dublin City, the Phoenix Park is the eight largest enclosed park in Europe. The Park bagged the Green flag Award from the State, and the Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor, for being a major tourist attraction for visitors in Dublin City. Spread over 1,750 acres, the 350-year-old Park, is home to the official residence of the President of Ireland.
Originally, a royal deer hunting ground, the Park established by James Butler in the 17th century, is home for herds of fallow deer. Institutional building and roads cover 7% of the Park, and the remaining is for woodlands and recreational purposes. The Park known as ‘fionn uisce’ in Irish, meaning ‘clear water’ is adjacent to the River Liffy, and is the busiest during the summers. Around 40 Viking burial grounds remain at the Phoenix Park, making it the largest Viking Burial Ground in Dublin City. At the Visitor Centre, exhibits and historical timeline of the Phoenix Park is on display for the visitors.
Major Highlights of the Phoenix Park includes, the Dublin Zoo, the Ashtown Castle, the People’s Flower Garden, Wellington Monument, and Aras an Uachtaráin. The Dublin Zoo is a popular attraction for visitors, and is the fourth oldest Zoo in the World, with more than 400 different animal species from around the globe. The People’s Flower Gardens, display the best of Victorian horticulture, and the Ashtown Castle, built of stone, is a former medieval stronghold of the 15th century, and currently restored and preserved as a mansion. Other places of interest are the Wellington Monument, the largest Obelisk in Europe, standing tall at 62 m, erected to commemorate the military victory of Arthur Wellesley over Napoleon at the battle of Waterloo.
Events such as motor rally, polo, cricket, horse rides, the Great Ireland Run, and public concerts take place every year, at the Phoenix Park sports and play grounds. Visitors can hire bicycles at the entrance gates, and over-speeding, feeding animals and deer is an offence.
Open 7 days a week, the Phoenix Park welcomes visitors all-round the year. Entry is free for all ages, and opens every day from 7am to 10:45pm, and remains closed on 24 and 25 December. The Visitor Centre opens from 9:30am to 6.00pm, and is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Guided tours to Aras an Uachtaráin is on Saturdays only, by pre-booking of free tickets, at the Visitors Center. There are well- maintained cycling and walking lanes for visitors, and parking is available for bicycles and cars at the Visitor Centre. For more information or queries on timings, tickets, events, parking, or others, reach the Phoenix Park support.
