How a residence on St Thomas's Hill in the Phoenix Park became The Magazine Fort.
The Magazine Fort is built on land that once belonged to the monks of Kilmainham. The monks were of The Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem. The land later became the property of Sir Edward Fisher who built Phoenix House on the hill in the early 1600s. After seven years, Edward Fisher sold the house back to the Crown where it became the home of the serving viceroy.
When the Viceregal Lodge was built in another part of the Phoenix Park it became the residence of the Lord Lieutenant.
In 1734, it was decided to build a Magazine Fort on the hill.
The Magazine Fort was built to defend the city of Dublin. Dean Jonathan Swift wrote a short verse about its construction.
Behold! a proof of Irish sense!
Here Irish wit is seen!
When nothing's left, that's worth defence,
We build a magazine.
During the 1916 Rising the fort was attacked and taken over by Fianna Éireann and The Volunteers who made a failed attempt to blow it up.
'Dublin: A Personal View' broadcast on 21 December 1983. The presenter is Éamonn Mac Thomáis.
The programme was filmed and produced by David Shaw-Smith.
