The Irish playground once visited by superstars that has ‘everything' near busy Dublin tourist attraction
PLAY TIME
The park has received rave reviews online
TAKE a look at the popular Irish playground that has "everything" and was once visited by superstars.
Phoenix Park is one of the largest enclosed public parks in any capital city in Europe, and is home to many attractions for all ages.
Amenities include the popular Dublin Zoo, cafes, and its many fields, making it the perfect place for having a picnic - and there is something for everyone.
Visitors can hire bikes, take cycle tours and partake in orienteering.
Dublin Zoo is a favourite among kids of all ages, and is a great way to keep them busy during the summer months.
Also located in Phoenix Park is the perfect thing to help prolong the day while tiring out the little ones before bedtime.
READ MORE IN TRAVEL
GREAT PARK
The Irish playground with swings, wobbly bridge and zipline just mins from beach
FUN DAY
The Irish playground perfect for cheap family day out minutes from popular beach
To the west of the Victorian Walled Garden at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre is the universal access playground.
Opened in 2008, it has been a huge success with kids of all ages.
The playground is imaginatively themed and designed in a bright and attractive way.
It features a variety of play units, and is also accessible for children with disabilities.
Most read in City
VIKING VACAY
Ireland's oldest city with longboats, swords and Vikings in new immersive tour
SUN SOAKED
The sun spot that's LA of Europe with film festival, designer shops & 32C heat
SI YA
'It's my new favourite Spanish place' - Pretty city has €2.50 wine & huge market
DEAL-BAI
How we do Dubai for dirt cheap: £30 hotels, secret airports and £2 meals
RECYCLED MATERIALS
Health and safety is a core part of the design of the playground, and it is made of a significant amount of recycled materials in both the units and ground surface.
The EVOS multi-facility play unit is the first of its kind in the country, drawing tourists and locals alike.
The best playground in Ireland with castle, natural vistas and windsurfing - and it's right next to the beach
And the playground was a huge hit with Beyonce and Jay-Z in 2014.
The famous couple brought their daughter Blue Ivy to play on the swings and slides while in the country for Beyonce's concerts.
One onlooker said at the time: "They were dressed down and you had to look twice to see who it was."
The playground is suitable for kids aged between 4 and 12.
All children must be accompanied by an adult, while all adults must be with a child.
The playground is open from 9.30am until one hour before sunset year-round, weather permitting.
STAY HYDRATED
There is also a free water filling station in the courtyard of the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre, allowing you and the kids to stay hydrated.
The filling station was opened to avoid unnecessary single use plastic drinking bottles, encouraging people to bring a reusable bottle with them.
There is another universal access playground at the People's Gardens, which is by the North Circular Road Gate entrance.
This is also open from 9.30am until one hour before sunset year-round, weather permitting.
The park has received rave reviews online, and it has a 4.5 star rating on Google.
Taking to TripAdvisor, one person said: "Took a break from the adult sightseeing for the kids to let loose. The park was great to walk through and let them run.
"The playground was well kept and plenty of seating."
Another took to Google reviews to say: "Lovely playground, grandchildren love it, zip wire, lots to keep them entertained, very safe seating for parents/carers."
Someone else said: "Nice park and fun playground for kids. Lots of activities in the park with a lake and a channel."
Another wrote: "Lovely park, it has everything. Including pump track for bikes, skateboard area, cafe, and of course swings etc. Plenty of seats and picnic benches for mums and dads."
1
Topics
Children parenting and family life
motherhood
Staycation tips and ideas
Summer
Sun Club
Dublin
Europe
Ireland
YOU MIGHT LIKE
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
41 minutes ago
- RTÉ News
Irish writer Donal Ryan wins prestigious Orwell Prize for Political Fiction
Irish writer Donal Ryan has been announced as the winner of the prestigious Orwell Prize for Political Fiction for his novel 'Heart, Be At Peace' this evening in London. The novel, which is set a decade after his acclaimed debut novel, 'The Spinning Heart', centres on the story of a small-knit town told through the voices of 21 different characters. The 2025 judging panel for the prize for fiction was chaired by author Jim Crace and he said that Mr Ryan's book was chosen as the winner "for its clarity" and "for its twenty one perfectly pitched voices". "Here is a small deprived community in rural Ireland - suffering and recovering from the bruises of its political and economic past," Mr Crace said. He described the novel as "exceptional". Mr Ryan, from Co Tipperary, joins a distinguished list of former Irish writers on the winning list, including Anna Burns and Claire Keegan. Ukranian author Victoria Amelina is posthumous winner of the Orwell Prize for Political Writing for her book 'Looking at women, looking at war'. She died in July 2023 in the Ukraine war and her unfinished work documents the resistance efforts of Ukrainian people and was described by the judges as "a testimony and a precious, powerful work of literature, a steady beam of light born amid darkness and violence". There is a prize of £3,000 (€3,517) for each of the winners. Every year, the Orwell Foundation awards prizes for the work which comes closes to George Orwell's own ambition to "make political writing into an art".
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Irish Sun's acclaimed podcast detailing harrowing Stardust blaze disaster impact scoops 7th gong with latest award win
THE Irish Sun's acclaimed Stardust Tragedy podcast has scooped its seventh gong. The hit series was today honoured at the 2025 Justice Media Awards, held at its headquarters in Blackhall Place in Advertisement 1 The Justice Media Award is the seventh gong for the acclaimed podcast The eight-part pod, produced in conjunction with Onic, told the shocking story of the 1981 Artane nightclub It also documented the 43-year fight for justice by their The groundbreaking work won the Broadcast journalism Irish Sun Editor Fiona Wynne said: 'We are immensely proud that our podcast has been recognised with a Justice Media Award. Advertisement READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS 'The Stardust families fought for justice for 43 years, there's no other case in Irish 'It was our privilege to be able to tell their stories and I'm deeply grateful to them for their trust.' Incredibly, this was its seventh win after bagging four Irish Podcast Awards, while the series was crowned Podcast of the Year at the Irish Journalism Awards in November. In December last year, it also won Best Digital Content at the Shine Mental Advertisement Most read in The Irish Sun The Stardust Tragedy was launched in April 2024, a week after a Dublin Coroner's Some 841 patrons had attended the Valentine's disco in the Stardust on the night of February 13, 1981. At about 1.40am on the 14th, a small fire was noticed in the west alcove of the club. Within minutes, the blaze had spread as an announcement was made to evacuate the building. Advertisement The lights then went off and patrons began to panic as they desperately tried to escape the burning building — but a number of locked or blocked exit routes prevented people getting out. Tragically, 48 people died in the horror blaze. The ages of those who were killed in the fire ranged from 16 to 27, and in 23 cases the deceased were the eldest and sole breadwinner for their families. Most of the dead came from Artane, Kilmore and greater Coolock, and half of them were aged 18 or younger, with four of the victims aged 16 and eight aged 17. Advertisement
Extra.ie
2 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Is it safe to holiday in Turkey, Cyprus, Egypt and more? Latest advice for Irish
The Middle East has entered another period of uncertainty, as Israel and Iran exchanged missiles over 12 days. Despite both countries entering a ceasefire, as announced by US President Donald Trump, the countries began further exchanges just hours after it was announced, with both countries accusing the other of breaking the agreement. But with some Irish people potentially heading on holidays to surrounding regions, the Department of Foreign Affairs have issued updates surrounding their travel advice to countries near the region. Pic: Abdullah Al-Eisa/Getty Images The DFA have said that regional tensions mean that there may be possible attacks on military installations and/or strategic infrastructure. Missile debris may also become an issue. 'Ongoing hostilities in Iran, Israel, Palestine and in Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen may escalate, leading to possible attacks on military installations and/or on strategic infrastructure,' the DFA wrote on their website. 'Debris from intercepted missiles or drones may cause localised damage over urban areas. The most immediate risk remains delay or cancellation of flights.' The DFA have said that people travelling to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), i.e. to Dubai, must exercise a high degree of caution when travelling. Pic: Getty. The DFA have said that people travelling to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), i.e. to Dubai, must exercise a high degree of caution when travelling. Due to the ongoing tensions in the region, airport travel disruptions are anticipated — with the DFA advising that people contact the airline they're travelling with for relevant updates prior to the travel. 'The Embassy of Ireland, Abu Dhabi is closely monitoring the current regional situation and advises that Irish citizens exercise heightened caution,' the DFA have said. 'Please follow the instructions of local authorities. For further updates, please monitor the Embassy's social media channels. Pic:The country was recently hit by Iranian missiles, with a number of flights being cancelled and delayed as a result — with the DFA saying that they're continuing to monitor the situation. 'We continue to monitor ongoing regional tensions,' the DFA say. 'Please exercise caution, monitor local and international media, follow the advice of local authorities, and observe any additional security measures imposed during this time. 'Continuing airport disruptions are anticipated. Please contact your airline for relevant updates prior to travel.' With Gaza being accessible via Egypt, the Department of Foreign Affairs has advised visitors to exercise a high degree of caution, and is strongly advised against: Pic:Travelling to the Governorate of North Sinai including the Taba-Suez Road where the security situation is extremely dangerous Travelling to Gaza via the Rafah border crossing, as the vicinity of the Rafah border crossing is particularly dangerous at the moment and the border crossing is currently closed And independently travel to remote desert areas close to the Libyan and Sudanese borders DFA have also advised visitors to travel by air to: Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada and immediate surrounds and Marsa Alam and immediate surrounds Tourist areas in the Nile river (such as Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel). Irish citizens should be aware of the hazardous driving conditions in Egypt. Following a period of unrest which began in March, the DFA have updated Irish travellers to issue a high degree of caution when entering the country. Visitors are advised to follow the guidance of national and local authorities, stay fully informed of what's going on by monitoring local news and devise a security plan. 'Large demonstrations have taken place in Istanbul and other Turkish cities since March 19 2025,' the Department of Foreign Affairs wrote on their website. 'A ban on demonstrations is currently in place and a number of restrictions on transport and movement within the city have been in effect. 'Avoid all protests and demonstrations and minimise time spent in crowded areas, particularly those frequented by foreigners. Carry an ID or photocopy of passport at all times and present to security officers if requested. Please be aware that police in Türkiye can take measures such as the use of tear gas to control protesters. It is advisable to carry a charged mobile phone with connectivity at all times.' The DFA have also strongly advised against all travel to regions within 10km of the border between Türkiye and Syria, as well as advising against all but essential travel to the provinces of Hatay, Kilis and Sirnak. The Department of Foreign Affairs have said that people should take normal precautions when travelling to Cyprus. However, the northern part of Cyprus proclaimed itself as the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus', and while it's not recognised internationally by any country other than Türkiye, entrance to the region may be restricted.
