In the huge expanse of the wonderful Phoenix Park in Dublin there are many things to see, to do and to admire but possibly the finest jewel of all in the Park is Áras an Uachtaráin which today is the official residence of the President of Ireland. The Áras an Uachtaráin had an interesting past before it became the Official Residence of the President of Ireland. The house itself was started in 1751, by the Park Ranger Nathaniel Clements with architects Francis Johnston and Jacob Owen. In 1782 it had been taken over by the British Viceroys who ruled Ireland for the next 170 or so years. Nathaniel Clements was paid a massive sum in those days of £25,000 for Áras an Uachtaráin

The Áras an Uachtaráin having been taken over as the official residence of the British Viceroys until 1922 and then it became the official residence of the British Governors General until 1938 and when they departed it finally became the Official Residence of the President of Ireland and Douglas Hyde was the first Irish President to live there and Presidents following Douglas Hyde still use the Áras as such until modern times and hopefully in the future.

Over the time of the Viceroys and the Governor Generals various additions and renovations to the Aras most of which have coincided with the visits of various British monarchs to Ireland. In 1849 Queen Victoria made a state visit to Ireland and to accommodate some of her retinue the East wing of the Áras was built, similarly in 1911 the visit of George V saw an extension being made to the West wing of the Áras. Beautiful formal gardens were laid out and planted by Decimus Burton in the 1940’s. The Aras nearly did not get chosen as the President of Ireland’ s residence as WT Cosgrave favored Glenstal Castle in County Limerick and in the late 1930’s De Valera wanted to demolish it and rebuild it as he thought it signified British rule but Adolf Hitler and the second world war put a stop to that!

The Áras is opened to the public by the Irish President each Saturday and many thousands of people visit the formal quarters and rooms and view the grounds and garden each year. In addition to the official guests invited and hosted by the President at the many state functions, more thousands visit the Áras each year.

Christ Church Cathedral Dublin

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