An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir September 2016 www.dfmagazine.ie 16 | by PAUL O'BRIEN MA PhotoS by MíCHEáL Ó DOIBHILíN Recently An Cosantóir were given access to one of the Phoenix Park's most iconic military installations and is a well known post to many veterans that served with the Defence Forces. Located strategically on St. Thomas's Hill to the south- east of the Phoenix Park, the bastion fort and magazine were constructed in 1734 and built on the site of the former 'Phoenix Lodge.' The original star shaped structure built to designs by engineer John Corneille were constructed from brick and limestone. The main body of the fort is approximately two acres in area and is surrounded by a dry moat. Each corner is de- fended by a demi-bastion and the walls are 1.5metres (5ft) thick. The large barrel-vaulted brick magazine chambers themselves are approximately 270 square metres (2,900 sq. ft) in size and located to the north west of the main enclo- sure. These were serviced by overhead cranes and gantries – for moving powder kegs. A later triangular barracks and accommodation block was added on the south-side in 1801, to designs by Francis Johnson. Other sheds and outbuildings were added in the 20th century. 1 The Maga- zine Fort was in use for almost 250 years and sub- ject to two notable raids. In 1916 members of Fianna Éireann launched an unsuccessful attack which was intended to signal the beginning of the Easter Rising. The second raid took place on 23rd December 1939 when members of the Irish Republi- can Army raided the installation for weapons and ammuni- tion. However their haul of stolen equipment was recovered in the weeks that followed. With the signing of the Anglo Irish Treaty the Magazine was handed over to the Irish Free State and continued in use until 1988 when it was signed over to the Office of Pub- lic Works (OPW). Many members of the Irish Defence Forces were stationed within its walls at some point in their careers and now there is an opportunity to revisit this historical complex. The Board has commenced a conservation and restora- tion project for this historical building and have opened up the complex for a number of limited guided tours. These will enable visitors to view the building and also to see the OPW conservation processes and techniques that will preserve the Magazine for future generations. Admission to the Magazine Fort Tour is by ticket only. Tickets are available on a first come first served basis from the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre. Tours are available on Sundays and Fridays only until the end of October 2016. Tour Times are: 10.00am 12.00pm and 14.30pm. Further details are available on www.phoenixpark.ie 1 Casey, C., Dublin, the City within the Grand and Royal Canals and the Circular Road with the Phoenix Park (Yale University Press, 2005)

• Cover