Outer Districts North, Dublin

From Dublin's Collins Barracks at Blackhall Place, Parkgate Street leads west to Phoenix Park. This large public park (767 ha/1,752 acres) owes its name, not to the phoenix on a column set up in 1747 by the Viceroy, Lord Chesterfield who established the park, but to the Irish name of a nearby spring, Fionn Uisg ("Clear Water").The Ashtown Castle Visitor Centre is located in a tower house dating from the 17th C. Visitors can view a historical interpretation of the past from 3500 B.C. to the present.

To the right of Dublin's Main Road, which runs in a straight line through Phoenix Park, are the People's Garden, the Zoological Gardens noted for its successful breeding of lions, a polo ground, the residence of the President of the Irish Republic and previously of the Viceroy (by Nathaniel Clements, 1751-54), and the Apostolic Nunciature. To the left of the road are the huge obelisk of the Wellington Monument (200ft/60m high, by Sir Robert Smirke, 1817), an eyecatching landmark for visitors coming from the city, followed by various sports grounds, the residence of the United States Ambassador and, at the far end, the Ordnance Survey Office. On the south side of the park is St Mary's Hospital, with a chapel designed by Cooley (1771).Dublin Zoo is the third oldest public zoo in the world. It has 30 acres of colorful gardens and a variety of wild animals and tropical birds from around the world. Favorite features include the new Pet Care area and the train ride around the zoo.

On Phibsborough Road is the Glasnevin or Prospect Cemetery, Dublin's extensive burial ground with the graves of Daniel O'Connell, Charles Stewart Parnell, Roger Casement and many other Irish patriots.

Northeast of the Glasnevin Cemetery, on Dublin's Phibsborough Road, bounded by the River Tolka, are the 50acre/20ha Botanic Gardens, with a fine wrought iron Palm House (by Richard Turner, 1842-50).The gardens carry about 20,000 species and cultivars in plant collection.

Going east along Dublin streets beside the River Tolka, we come to Fairview Park, laid out on land reclaimed from the sea adjoining the harbor. North of this, past the junction of Griffith Avenue and Malahide Road, stands the Marino Manor (by William Chambers, 1765-71: National Monument), a country villa built for the first Earl of Charlemont, with eight sumptuously appointed rooms set round a handsome staircase. In the basement are extensive domestic offices, below a terrace flanked by four lions.

From Fairview Park, Clontarf Road borders the north side of the bay in the direction of Howth. To the right can be seen the flat North Bull Island, with two golf courses (Royal Dublin and St Anne's).This 300 ha island in Dublin Bay was formed after the construction of the Bull Wall in the 1820's.Now a Nature Reserve and Bird Sanctuary of international importance with up to 25,000 wading birds using the area in Winter.

Croke Park is the home of Ireland's national games of hurling and gaelic football. Founded in 1884, the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) is Ireland's largest sporting and cultural organisation. The museum has historic exhibits and databanks that highlight historic moments, the great games and names of sport. The tour of Croke Park offers an in-depth look at one of the most historic and modern sporting arenas in the world and includes the dressing rooms, corporate suites, VIP section, media centre and pitch side.

A boat can be taken from Howth harbor to Ireland's Eye, a rocky islet 1.25mi/2km offshore, with a little church and a Martello tower (a watchtower dating from Napoleonic times).