Santry Demesne Archives - PARKS AND GARDENS

PHOTOGRAPHED BY INFOMATIQUE 31 JANUARY 2025

My exploration of Santry Demesne Public Park began with a simple bus journey. Intrigued by the new E1 bus route terminating in Northwood, I decided to explore the area. I was struck by the recent development, but my sense of direction led me to suspect the proximity of Morton Stadium and its neighbouring public park. (As a point of interest, during my time with B+I Shipping, I shared an office with Billy Morton’s brother – though I can’t recall his name, he always introduced himself in relation to his famous sibling).

I quickly located the park, and it proved to be much larger than anticipated. Santry Demesne Public Park occupies the grounds of a once-grand house and gardens, originally built in 1703 on the site of a medieval dwelling. The house fell into disrepair around the turn of the 20th century. Local lore offers various explanations for its decline, but a devastating fire in 1947 left it derelict, and it was finally demolished in 1959.

Despite the house’s demise, remnants of its former grandeur remain. Visitors can still see the foundations, front steps, tree avenue, and walled garden. Fingal County Council officially took charge of Santry Demesne in June 2003, transforming it into a valuable public amenity.

Today, the park boasts a children’s playground, an extensive network of paths for walkers, joggers, and dog walkers, and free car parking just inside the main gates. The Community Garden, within the Walled Garden, is thriving, with a Kitchen Garden and Heritage Orchard established for over two years. The front section is currently being developed into a Recreational Garden, which will soon be open to the public more regularly.

While the original stone temple from the Domvile family’s Templeogue residence (transported to Luggala in County Wicklow in 1858) no longer stands in Santry, a facsimile has been erected in its place. The original Phoenix Folly, however, remains a key feature of the park, echoing the more famous Phoenix Column in Phoenix Park.

The Phoenix Folly draws inspiration from that 1747 monument in Phoenix Park, commissioned by the 4th Earl of Chesterfield. This column, topped with a mythical phoenix, was a prominent feature on the park’s main avenue, although it was later moved. It is believed the column commemorated the park’s opening to the public, symbolising a new era of access for Dubliners.

Santry Demesne’s Phoenix Folly faithfully recreates the original column’s key architectural elements, showcasing neoclassical elegance. The Corinthian column, with its fluted shaft and intricately carved capital, exemplifies this style, while the ornate base and sculpted phoenix enhance its aesthetic appeal.

Follies like this were popular in 17th and 18th-century demesnes, serving as decorative features or symbolic elements. They were designed to pique curiosity and add an element of surprise. The Phoenix Folly, with its connection to the mythical bird, symbolises renewal and regeneration, perhaps reflecting Santry Demesne’s transformation from private estate to public park. The phoenix is a particularly fitting symbol, mirroring the park’s own renewal and accessibility to all.