A history
and
guidebook

"Author Brendan Nolan provides a fascinating read."
Irish Independent.

"Brendan Nolan's comprehensive history and guidebook of Phoenix Park is a masterpiece." Community Voice.

Guided walk around Phoenix Park

Sunday October 5, 2008 led by Brendan Nolan author of Phoenix Park, a history and guidebook

Meeting at 2pm in Ashtown Castle Visitor's Centre courtyard, return to there c. 4.30pm

An amazing opportunity to come on a guided walk and raise money for Water Projects in Ethiopia, as well. more

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Cottage Garden Opens

A cottage garden is open to the public in the old walled gardens at Ashtown Visitor's Centre. The garden is shared between old-style cottage flowers and a vegetable growing area.

Further restoration is planned. A planning application was lodged in May for restoration of the other half of the garden area.

Once used as a herb garden for the Papal Nunciature, which stood where the castle keep is now revealed, the gardens lay fallow for more than a quarter of a century when the Papal Nuncio moved out of Ashtown Demesne and returned the castle and its grounds to the OPW.

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That's not the park

Confusion is being caused by the naming of a new railway station on the Navan line in Dublin as Phoenix Park.

The station was built as part of the old Phoenix Park racecourse which is adjacent to, but not part of, the park.

But tourists don't know that.

more

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Bus talk

"I would just like to share my views on the new bus service within the Phoenix park and I must say how disappointed I am that it has been put in place," writes a reader, who continues: "Why on earth do people feel the need for a bus service running through this lovely place? I just don't understand it."
But another reader disagrees and thinks the bus a great idea. here

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Cycling through the park

Visitors to the park may now hire bikes at the Parkgate Street entrance to the park and cycle through the park as they will. Several dedicated cycle paths have been laid out through the park In recent years, but cyclists are not confined to particular paths. more

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Shuttle bus starts in Phoenix Park

A shuttle bus service is now in operation in Phoenix Park to transport passengers around the park.

The service operates every 20 minutes from a terminus outside the park beside the Luas bridge at Parkgate Street.

From Monday to Friday the service runs from 7am; and on weekends and bank holidays it operates from 10am, concluding at 7pm each day. more

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Children's playground open for fun

A new children's playground is now open in Phoenix Park.

Opening hours are 9.30am to 5pm and the entrance is on the western side of the walled garden at the Visitor's Centre at Ashtown Castle.

Entry is free and there's loads of parking in the Centre's grounds.

more

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This comprehensive guide to Phoenix Park covers its origins and history, buildings and monuments, wildlife, literary associations, military use, sports and outlines self-guided walks for the leisurely stroller to undertake.

Provided are histories and descriptions of park landmarks, including Dublin Zoo, Áras an Uachtaráin, Ashtown Castle, Farmleigh, the American Ambassador’s Residence, Garda Headquarters, and more.

It touches on such historical events as the political murders of 1882, the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1979, the national soccer team’s homecomings, and the Nurse Gargan murder.

This book is of interest to visitors, and Dubliners alike, and to anyone interested in this most historic and scenic park.

It would make a welcome addition to corporate and conference goodybags as well as being an ideal introduction to the area for new arrivals.

In the shops now

ISBN 1-904148-78-6
or order online here
  

oOo

Brendan Nolan has reported on Phoenix Park as a freelance journalist for several decades and was a professional observer at many of the events of the late 20th century related herein.

He was born in Chapelizod in a house beside the churchyard of Le Fanu and counted Phoenix Park as his personal rambling ground through his growing years and beyond.