Description of the attraction
Phoenix Park is a city park located in Dublin, one of the largest walled parks in Europe. This is a favorite vacation spot for townspeople and tourists. The name of the park does not come from the phoenix, but from the Irish phrase fionn uisce, which means "clear water", and sounds similar to the word "phoenix".
Since the time of the Normans, this land has belonged to the Abbey of Kilmenham. During the dissolution of the monasteries under King Henry VIII (1537), the lands passed into the possession of the king. In 1662, the Viceroy of Ireland, the Duke of Ormond, established the Royal Hunting Park on these lands, in which deer and pheasants were bred. In 1745, the Earl of Chesterfield opened the park to the public.
The park is the seat of the President of Ireland, the former residence of the Viceroy of Ireland. The famous Dublin Zoo is also located within Phoenix Park.
Another attraction of Phoenix Park is the Papal Cross, which was erected in 1979 in honor of the visit of Pope John Paul II to Ireland. The 62-meter obelisk in honor of the Duke of Wellington is the largest obelisk in Europe.
The park's information center is located at Ashtown Castle, a stone medieval tower that dates back to the 15th century. For a long time Ashtown was hidden in the thickness of the walls of another building and was discovered only at the end of the 20th century, when this building was demolished.
The park also houses the headquarters of the Irish police, Garda Sheehan.
The park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The side gates are closed at night. The entrance to the park is free.
