Parks & Paths
“The joyful heart sees and reads the world with a sense of freedom and graciousness.”
John O'Donohue
One of the largest parks in Europe, covering a vast 707 hectares, this park offers plenty to do during your next Sunlight Properties vacation. Apart from the beautiful wide open spaces, cycle and running tracks, and sporting activities galore; it’s also home to the Dublin Zoo (open from 9.30am daily, Price €16.50 per adult) which makes for a wonderful family outing. Interestingly, the residence of the President of Ireland - Áras an Uachtaráin (aw-rus on ookter-awn) can be found here, as well as that of the US Ambassador’s.
There is so much to see and do here, and with over 14km of bike paths, why not rent bikes from Paul, who runs Phoenix Park Bike Hire (located at the main entrance), and take a few hours to explore the park for yourself. There are also hundreds of deer living in the park and if you venture into the more wooded areas, you are sure to spot some – an experience the children will love! The park never closes.
Tours of Áras an Uachtaráin are conducted every Saturday for free. Tour times are 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm, & 3.30pm.
St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2.
St Stephen’s Green is a lovely leafy oasis in the heart of the city. This 22 acre park features winding footpaths and a large duck filled pond complete with a waterfall. Manicured flower beds are scattered throughout, and there is even a garden for the blind with highly scented plants which have their names written in Braille. Next to the main garden circle is a bandstand, a great spot to catch some free concerts during the summer. Bring along a picnic lunch prepared in your gorgeous Sunlight Properties holiday rental and spend the afternoon soaking up the atmosphere. Numerous statues of Irish heroes, writers and dignitaries stand poignantly throughout the park. Among them, a sculpture of Yeats in the Yeats’ Memorial Garden and a statue of Lord Ardilaun, who donated the Green to the people of Dublin in 1880.
Bushy Park, Rathfarnham Dublin 14.
This is a very pretty park on the south side of the city. There are recreational facilities including tennis courts and a children’s playground, a duck pond and a wooded area, as well as a pretty waterfall.
A lovely, tree lined park that runs from the mountains, through the southern part of the city. The park follows the course of the Dodder River.
Herbert Park, Merrion Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.
Herbert Park is a beautiful park with a bandstand and central pond in the centre of Ballsbridge. It is a great place to get out and go for a run or a walk while on holiday in your Sunlight Properties vacation home. If that's too energetic this holiday, why not pick up a picnic from one of the delicious restaurants nearby to enjoy al fresco?!
The Iveagh Gardens, Clonmel St, Dublin 2.
Tucked away off Harcourt Street, this park is not well known. In amongst the seclusion of the trees and woodland, there is a grotto, a maze and rosarium.
St Patrick's Park, Patrick St, Dublin 8.
Located just next to St. Patrick’s cathedral, this is the perfect stop off point during a hectic day of sight seeing. Simple, manicured gardens and lawns are interspersed with benches for you to sit, relax and take in the impressive structure of the stunning cathedral.
