Phoenix Park

The Phoenix Park is designated as a National Historic Park. At 709 hectares the park is more than twice the area of New York’s Central Park. The name Phoenix is a corruption of the Irish fionn uisce meaning “clear water”. The park was first established as a royal deer park in 1662 by Viceroy James Butler, Duke of Ormond. The original deer park also included the site of present day Kilmainham Hospital (IMMA), the site of the War Memorial Gardens at Islandbridge and Heuston Station. The park was opened to the public in 1747 by the Earl of Chesterfield.

The present layout of the park is largely derived from plans prepared at various times during the 19th century and is a hybrid of neo-classical symmetry. The neo classical tradition is represented by the Chesterfield Avenue. Extensively the park is ordered in the  romantic landscape tradition typified by the naturalesque meadows enclosed and framed by informal clumps of woodland. The People’s Flower Gardens is a Victorian park within the park; with its seasonal flower beds, herbaceous border, duck pond and rockery.

The Phoenix Park is a living monument to the history of the island of Ireland. A place where institutions of colonial power (Viceroy’s Lodge) were reappropriated as institutions for the new state (Áras an Uachtaráin). A place loaded with monuments and symbolism, from the trumphalist Wellington Testimonial to the minimalist Papal Cross.  A public gathering space without comparison, a truly remarkable tapestry of heritage, wildlife, recreation and designed landscape.

Park Statistics:
Area	1752 acres
Woodland	500 acres
Roads	22 km
Cycle lanes	14 km
Footpaths	32 km
Perimeter Wall	11 km
Fallow deer herd	450 - 600
Major public events	250 + per year
Ball game matches	2000 + per year
Car journeys	10 million per year

Park facilities
- Dublin Zoo
- Phoenix Park Visitor Centre
- Farmleigh House
- The People’s Flower Gardens
- The Band Hollow
- Children’s playground
- 25 Playing Fields
- 10 Sports Pavilions
- 2 Cricket Grounds
- 1 Polo Ground
- Cross Country Circuits
- Motor Racing Circuit
- Horse Trekking
- Model Aeroplanes

The Phoenix Park Cricket Club founded in 1830 is one of the oldest extant sporting clubs in the world. The All Ireland Polo club was founded in 1873 and is the oldest in Europe. Motor racing first took place in the Phoenix Park in 1903 when the Irish Gordon Bennett Race Speed Trials were held on the Chesterfield Avenue. This was followed in 1929 by the Irish International Grand Prix; the first of three Irish motor racing grands prix. The Phoenix Park hosted the All Ireland Football and Hurling Finals of 1893.

The park also houses; Áras an Uachtaráin (residence of Head of State), the US ambassadors residence, Garda (Police) headquarters, Ordnance Survey Ireland, a hospital and a school.