After two years of meticulous work, the Magazine Fort stabilisation and restoration project in Phoenix Park has
been successfully completed, breathing new life into one of
Dublin’s most significant historic military sites.

A Fortress with a Storied Past

Built between 1734 and 1736 during the reign of King George II, the Magazine Fort was commissioned by the Duke of Dorset, then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Designed by military engineer John
Corneille, the fort was constructed as a secure ‘magazine’ to store and supply gunpowder and ammunition to British Government forces. Its classic square layout features four demi-bastions and
is surrounded by a dry moat, embodying 18th-century military architecture.

Between 1793 and 1801, the fort underwent several enhancements
to strengthen its defences. In 1801, architect Francis Johnston extended the fort’s east side to provide accommodation for officers, soldiers, and their families.

The fort was handed over to the newly formed Irish State army in 1922. After decades of military use, it was decommissioned in 1988 and transferred to the Office of Public Works.

The Restoration Journey

The recent restoration involved a range of specialist works to preserve the fort’s historic fabric and ensure its longevity.
Key works included:

– Structural repairs and lime rendering
of the rampart walls and three cavalier
buildings.
– Exterior repairs to the Magazine
Building, including roof renewal
with natural slate, lead gutters and
reinstatement of stone capping.
– Repointing of the blast wall.
– Structural repairs and restoration of
the metal Reception Shed.
– Reconstruction of the Duke of Dorset
Gate.
– Localised roof repairs to other
buildings within the fort.

One of the most complex tasks was the restoration of the rampart walls. The ‘banquettes’—stone steps built into the walls—were sinking and separating. Each stone was carefully numbered,
dismantled, and reassembled after installing new geogrid reinforcement footings. This work required close collaboration with ecologists to protect the sand martin birds that nest in the
lower part of the walls during summer.

The Magazine Building Gunpowder Store, with its three parallel vaulted structures and thick brick and stone walls, was restored to be weathertight. This included renewing the roof, repairing timber windows, and applying new lime render and repointing.

Rebuilding the Duke of Dorset Gate

The reconstruction of the Duke of Dorset Gate was a highlight of the project. Partially dismantled in the 1970s to allow military vehicles access, only the gate’s piers remained. Without historic drawings or photos, the team faced a significant challenge.

A breakthrough came with the discovery of a 1969 photograph of the fort’s caretaker, Mr. Larry Cunningham, and his daughter on her wedding day. This image provided crucial details of the gate’s Wicklow granite and Portland stone façade. Using the photograph
and a few remaining original stones, architects Audrey Farrell and Angela Rueda, structural engineer Liam Keogh, and master stonemason Gavin Conlon, worked together to recreate the missing elements with precision, restoring the gate to its former glory.

Unearthing the Past

Archaeologists from Archaeological Plan supervised the restoration, documenting artefacts and conducting safety surveys.
Their discoveries included metal detonator tops, grenade fragments, and an Irish Republican Brotherhood uniform button, all remnants of the fort’s turbulent history, which included the
1939 IRA raid when munitions were seized.

During excavation, suspicious soil containing degraded plastic explosives was found and safely removed by the Irish Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit, underscoring the site’s complex past. It caused quite the excitement on site that day!

Skills and Legacy

The project also served as a training ground for heritage skills. Junior craftspersons worked alongside experienced masons and craftspersons, learning traditional techniques in masonry repair, lime repointing, and lime harl rendering, ensuring these crafts
continue for future generations.

Opening to the Public

With this phase of the restoration program complete, the Magazine Fort will soon open its doors for public guided tours. Visitors can book through the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre and
experience first-hand this remarkable piece of Ireland’s military heritage.