St Anne's Park
Encyclopedia
St. Anne's Park is a public park and recreational facility, shared between Raheny
and Clontarf
, both suburbs on the northside
of Dublin, Ireland
.
The park, the second largest municipal park in Dublin, is part of a former 202 hectares (499.2 acre) estate assembled by members of the Guinness family, beginning with Benjamin Lee Guinness in 1835 (the largest municipal park is nearby (North) Bull Island, also shared between Clontarf and Raheny). Features include an artificial pond and a number of follies
.
of the same name on the lands. Lands were purchased over time to build up an extensive property, and a large Italianate-style mansion house was commissioned.
Sir Arthur Edward Guinness (Lord Ardilaun)
, who inherited the estate in 1868, was the person most responsible for expanding and developing the estate and gardens and planted wind-breaking evergreen (holm
) oaks and pines along the main avenue and estate boundaries, where they remain.
Lord and Lady Ardilaun had no children and the estate passed to their nephew Bishop Plunkett in the 1920s. In 1937, he decided he could no longer maintain such a large estate and negotiations with Dublin Corporation
resulted in the house and 444.75 acres (1.8 km²) of estate being sold to the Corporation for approximately £
55,000 in 1939. Bishop Plunkett retained Sybil Hill (now St. Paul's College) as a private residence with 30 acres (120,000 m²) of parkland, and it later became the site of St. Paul's College, Raheny, with extensive private playing fields.
In December 1943, the main residence of St. Anne's, "The Mansion", was gutted by a fire while being used as a store by the Local Defence Force
and the ruins were demolished in 1968. In the meantime, just over 200 acre (0.809372 km²) of the estate were developed for public housing with the central and most attractive portion comprising about 240 acre (0.9712464 km²) retained as parkland and playing fields.
to the Duck Pond, a number of follies, a walled garden, and grand avenue, all built by the Guinness family, and from more modern times, a rockery, a famous Rose Garden and newer miniature rose garden, and Dublin's city arboretum, with 1,000 varied trees.
In early 2009, Dublin City Council's Parks Department proposed the removal of both the Rockery (which had already commenced anyway) and of the New Pond, which had been built in the 1970's, with a fountain added in the 2000's. Both developments proceeded without any public notice or consultation, and were completed by mid-2009.
red brick Ardilaun stables survive, and have been modernised as the Red Stables Art Centre, with public facilities (see below).
In 1975, St. Anne's Rose Garden was opened to the public. In 1980 it was given a Civic Award by Bord Failte
and the Irish Town Planning Institute, and since 1981 it has been a centre for International Rose Trials.
The Red Stables were renovated in the 1990s, and now hold artists' residences, an exhibition space and the Tir na nOg Caife open 7 days a week from 9:30am , Farmers' Market is held in their courtyard at the weekend.
Red squirrels were formerly numerous in the park, which was one of the last strongholds of the species in Dublin. Grey squirrels were first noticed at the Sybil Hill end of the park in 1998 and Dublin City Council were notified but no action was taken. The grey squirrels have since spread throughout the park and numbers of reds have been drastically reduced. The population of red squirrels in St Anne's is probably no longer viable but control measures are planned.
Raheny
Raheny is a northern suburb of Dublin, the capital city of Ireland. It is an old area, centred around an old village, and is referenced back to 570 AD but after years of light settlement, with a main village and a coastal hamlet, grew rapidly in the 20th century, and is now a mid-density...
and Clontarf
Clontarf, Dublin
Clontarf is a coastal suburb on the northside of Dublin, in Ireland. It is most famous for giving the name to the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, in which Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, defeated the Vikings of Dublin and their allies, the Irish of Leinster. This battle, which extended to districts...
, both suburbs on the northside
Northside
Northside or North Side may refer to:Music:* Northside , a musical group from Manchester, England* NorthSide, an American record labelPlaces:* North Side, California, former name of Oildale, California, United States...
of Dublin, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
.
The park, the second largest municipal park in Dublin, is part of a former 202 hectares (499.2 acre) estate assembled by members of the Guinness family, beginning with Benjamin Lee Guinness in 1835 (the largest municipal park is nearby (North) Bull Island, also shared between Clontarf and Raheny). Features include an artificial pond and a number of follies
Folly
In architecture, a folly is a building constructed primarily for decoration, but either suggesting by its appearance some other purpose, or merely so extravagant that it transcends the normal range of garden ornaments or other class of building to which it belongs...
.
History
The estate was named after the Holy WellSt. Ann's Well, Raheny
St. Ann's Well in Raheny, Dublin, Ireland was once a popular holy well, and gave its name to the well-known St. Anne's Park, the city's largest municipal park, home for many years to the Guinness family.-Location:...
of the same name on the lands. Lands were purchased over time to build up an extensive property, and a large Italianate-style mansion house was commissioned.
Sir Arthur Edward Guinness (Lord Ardilaun)
Arthur Guinness, 1st Baron Ardilaun
Arthur Edward Guinness, 1st Baron Ardilaun, 2nd Baronet , known as Sir Arthur Guinness, Bt, between 1868 and 1880, was an Irish businessman, politician, and philanthropist, best known for giving St Stephen's Green to the people of Dublin.-Background and education:Guinness was born at St Anne's,...
, who inherited the estate in 1868, was the person most responsible for expanding and developing the estate and gardens and planted wind-breaking evergreen (holm
Holm Oak
Quercus ilex, the Holm Oak or Holly Oak is a large evergreen oak native to the Mediterranean region. It takes its name from holm, an ancient name for holly...
) oaks and pines along the main avenue and estate boundaries, where they remain.
Lord and Lady Ardilaun had no children and the estate passed to their nephew Bishop Plunkett in the 1920s. In 1937, he decided he could no longer maintain such a large estate and negotiations with Dublin Corporation
Dublin Corporation
Dublin Corporation , known by generations of Dubliners simply as The Corpo, is the former name given to the city government and its administrative organisation in Dublin between 1661 and 1 January 2002...
resulted in the house and 444.75 acres (1.8 km²) of estate being sold to the Corporation for approximately £
Irish pound
The Irish pound was the currency of Ireland until 2002. Its ISO 4217 code was IEP, and the usual notation was the prefix £...
55,000 in 1939. Bishop Plunkett retained Sybil Hill (now St. Paul's College) as a private residence with 30 acres (120,000 m²) of parkland, and it later became the site of St. Paul's College, Raheny, with extensive private playing fields.
In December 1943, the main residence of St. Anne's, "The Mansion", was gutted by a fire while being used as a store by the Local Defence Force
Irish Army Reserve
The Army Reserve is the land component of the Reserve Defence Forces . It is the second line reserve of the Army. The Army Reserve is a part-time, fully voluntary organisation, and is one of two elements of the Reserve Defence Forces of Ireland, the other element being the Naval Service Reserve.It...
and the ruins were demolished in 1968. In the meantime, just over 200 acre (0.809372 km²) of the estate were developed for public housing with the central and most attractive portion comprising about 240 acre (0.9712464 km²) retained as parkland and playing fields.
Features
The park has a number of features, from the small Naniken RiverNaniken River
The Naniken River is a minor river on the north side of Dublin city, Ireland, one of more than forty watercourses monitored by Dublin City Council...
to the Duck Pond, a number of follies, a walled garden, and grand avenue, all built by the Guinness family, and from more modern times, a rockery, a famous Rose Garden and newer miniature rose garden, and Dublin's city arboretum, with 1,000 varied trees.
In early 2009, Dublin City Council's Parks Department proposed the removal of both the Rockery (which had already commenced anyway) and of the New Pond, which had been built in the 1970's, with a fountain added in the 2000's. Both developments proceeded without any public notice or consultation, and were completed by mid-2009.
Follies
The follies include a Herculanean Temple on the banks of the Duck Pond and a viewing tower (once part of the estate's mansion house) and three fortifications. An ornamental bridge high over the Naniken River had its central portion removed in the 1980s, though the Roman-style building at the mansion-side landing point remains, while a "Druidic Circle" of Giant's Causeway basalt was lost at an earlier stage. The viewing tower has been closed for many years.Buildings
The elaborate TudorTudor architecture
The Tudor architectural style is the final development of medieval architecture during the Tudor period and even beyond, for conservative college patrons...
red brick Ardilaun stables survive, and have been modernised as the Red Stables Art Centre, with public facilities (see below).
Gardens
The walled garden, including a fruit garden added to the estate by Bishop Plunkett, is now chiefly a 12 acre (49,000 m²) plant nursery for the Parks Department. Thousands of bedding plants, shrubs, trees, and floral tubs are produced annually in the nursery. There is a herbaceous garden area open during limited hours, and a fine clock tower, restored to working order in 2007. It has been proposed in early 2009 that some allotments be made available in part of the walled garden.In 1975, St. Anne's Rose Garden was opened to the public. In 1980 it was given a Civic Award by Bord Failte
Tourism Ireland
Tourism Ireland is the marketing body responsible for marketing the island of Ireland overseas...
and the Irish Town Planning Institute, and since 1981 it has been a centre for International Rose Trials.
Sporting facilities
The park is intensively used by the public through its 35 playing pitches, 18 hard-surfaced tennis courts (some managed by Raheny Tennis Club), and a par-3 golf course. Woodland paths provide for walkers and joggers.Visitor facilities
Fauna
Mammals present in the park include badgers, hedgehogs, rabbits, fox, red squirrels, grey squirrels, house mice, field mice, pipistrelle bats and brown rats. Birds include sparrow hawk, woodcock and jay.Squirrels