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INVESTMENT IN THE Magazine Fort in Phoenix Park has been announced by Minister of State Patrick O’Donovan in order to conserve the site and improve its visitor facilities.
O’Donovan today announced the investment of funding for the restoration and upgrade of Magazine Fort. The Office of Public Works has detailed that there are plans underway to open a new interactive visitor experience at the site with the aim of highlighting the military history of the fort.
Speaking at the Magazine Fort, Minister O’Donovan said: “The OPW and I are dedicated to improving both accessibility to and the visitor experience in the Park, which I regard as an important national amenity.
Visiting military sites and buildings is an increasingly popular segment of the international tourism market and the investment proposed will contribute to the State’s tourism offering.
“With the proposed project, we will support the care and conservation of our national heritage estate and enhance the visitor infrastructure on site and in the Phoenix Park,” he added.
Proposed upgrades to the fort include the conservation of its structure, the construction of sound and light installations as well as the development of a visitor walk.
The upgrade and refurbishment of the Magazine Fort will create a new tourist attraction in Phoenix Park and will include a retelling of the history of the fort.
The Magazine Fort, located in Phoenix park is the major surviving Magazine Fort in Ireland. Construction of the fort began in 1734, its strategic position meant it was the ideal location for military purposes.
The fort is thought to have been used for three centuries and was built for the storage of gunpowder and ammunition for the British forces. It was managed by the Military Authorities until 1988 when it was decommissioned.
Taken over by the Irish Defence Forces in 1922 after the Anglo-Irish Treaty, the site was demilitarised in the 1980s and slowly fell into disrepair.
Since the 1916 centenary events in 2016, the fort has been opened in a limited capacity for tours between April and September.
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Phoenix Magazine?
Now’s here’s a proof of Irish sense/Here Irish wit is seen / When nothing’s left that’s worth defence/We build a magazine.— Jonathon Swift wrote about it’s construction, as Ireland was so decimated by poverty in 1737.
@Vonvonic: Ouch. Mind you, it’s lasted well for something that only took two years to build.
@Fiona Fitzgerald: Absolutely. It’s a nice spot to visit.
@Vonvonic: Swift was known to have a less than favourable view of the Irish people, and it was after all, the British who built it.
@Michael Burke: He frankly said he was an Englishman born in Ireland and used to pen frustration at the lack of ingenuity from the irish to better their lot. However, he placed blame for the overall thing very squarely with the British government.
@Vonvonic: *English government.
@Michael Burke: they brought labour over from Britain to build it? I don’t think so. Regardless of who our rulers were Irish people build everything in our country.
Should be hugely popular, people love exploring these. This and Spike Island will attract loads of tours.
When I see things like this I think of that Monty Python line “what did the Romans ever do for us?”
So long, and thanks for all the weaponry?
Was this not already announced last year?
@GrumpyAulFella: heard about that a long time
More very good news for Dublin. Phoenix park is a beautiful resource.
What I find amazing is that neither failte Ireland or DCC make tourist aware they must take away their own rubbish when using parks in Dublin. Hotels should provide black litter bags to tourist. Every time you fly into a capitol city its hard to know every rule.
Maybe DCC should go one step further and get their employees to use the same logic. Maybe even tidy up their own office and workspaces before the head home.
@leartius: I rather doubt that tourists are the main culprits.
@leartius: taking away your litter is hardly a ‘rule’ specific to Ireland, it’s a common courtesy and decency everywhere. It is not the responsibility for hotels to provide refuse sacks either, those who are badly enough behaved to leave rubbish behind would do so regardless of whether a hotel nannied them anyway
@leartius: What strange logic. How do you know they aren’t already incredibly tidy? Besides, the Phoenix Park and all its facilities are managed by the Office of Public Works, not Dublin City Council.
@leartius: DCC & Failte Ireland should make tourists aware they must bring home their rubbish home? Where on earth are these tourists from? What a bizarre suggestion
I used to play there as a child.
@Maria Clery-Breen: cool story
And will be extortionate in price like everything else in this country
@Keith O Hanlon: Hmm, extortionate like the three National Museums? Or the National Gallery? Or the Hugh Lane Gallery? Or the Chester Beatty Museum? Or the Science Gallery?
@Keith O Hanlon: Define extortionate?
@Keith O Hanlon: OPW sites are generally reasonable? The Phoenix Park is free to visit.
@Keith O Hanlon: Heritage sites in Ireland are not expensive compared to Europe. One of the few things that are reasonable. All OPW sites are FREE this year.
@Keith O Hanlon: not just here. I remember visiting giants causeway in 2004 and it was free. Few years later a visitor center blocked access and everyone had to pay 20 pounds to see what was free before.
A magazine fort? Sounds a bit like the analog version of a data centre. The storage space needed will be massive! I much prefer to read mine online…
About time
Great to preserve and open it up to the public. Collins Barracks nearby has an abundance of items and information about matters military. I think they should have more imagination as to what they exhibit. No more photos on walls please..
Made from magazines? Not strong enough
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