St Anne’s Park (Clontarf/Raheny) is a most surprising place to visit. At first glance it looks as though it’s a good sized park with big open spaces where dogs and dog owners can run around without any traffic worries. But the open spaces are not the full story. If you are willing to stray a little and go exploring you’ll come across monuments to ancient cultures of a Mediterranean nature.
I was there yesterday enjoying a fantastic sunny Sunday in November. I wasn’t alone. Plenty of people were out strolling, jogging, cycling, walking dogs and just having fun. Despite the number of people, the park had a calmness about it. People seemed to be relaxed and happy, glad to be out on such a fabulous day.
A few facts about St Anne’s Park
- The estate dates back to 1830s when it was owned by Arthur and Benjamin Lee Guinness
- It is named after St Anne’s Well, a holy well located in the park
- Its size is about 300 acres (120 hectares)
- It has a rose garden, the millennium arboretum, sports pitches, leisure walks and a weekly farmer’s market in the red stables courtyard.
My main focus on Sunday was a leisurely walk, a chance to clear my head after over indulging the night before and maybe a chance to take a few photos. I thought that I’d spend my time walking around taking pictures of the many follies of the park, but because the light was so good I concentrated on trees, leaves and acorns.
At one point, trying to be very still and quiet so I could take a shot of a squirrel, I was distracted by sound of heavy rain. But it wasn’t raining; what I heard was the sound of acorns falling. I don’t think I have ever heard so many falling in such a short space of time. The squirrel escaped unharmed!
So what are the follies of St Anne’s Park?
- a Herculanean Temple on the banks of the Duck Pond
- a viewing tower (once part of the estate’s mansion house)
- three stone fortifications
- an ornamental bridge high over the Naniken River
You’ll have to wait for another post to see pictures of the follies; I just couldn’t pull myself away from the trees.
If you want to know more about the park and its history I recommend getting a copy of Secret Dublin by Pat Liddy. It is a great book that contains 25 walks covering many hidden aspects of the city. St Anne’s Park is there along with plenty of detail about its history.
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