Phoenix park after dark

dekbhoy

is the park a safe place to walk after dark, have often thought of bringing the dog but am weary of the place after it gets dark or is there just parts to be avoided ,if so which parts.

doctorwu

I wouldnt do it very dodgy everywhere . All sorts.

mikemac

I can't say it's dodgy, I don't meet anyone there. Everywhere realy?

But back when I was fit (fat bastard now ) I used to go running in the park all the time, 10 milers a few times a week.

OP, at night it just is not possible without a torch. Well, barely possible when I did at 4am one day and that's because you can see the kerb but not the footpath.
There is feck all lighting, you'll be tripping over things.
Even along Chesterfield Avenue with the limited lighting it's extremely dark.
The cycle lane is better lit then the footpath but you meet ninja cyclists with no lights and black clothing. So stay off the cycle lane.

I'm not saying stay out of the park due to people, I've hear the Emmett Stag story but I wouldn't have a clue where to go to meet anybody, the park is a big place.
All I'll say is it's pitch black and do want to walk around somewhere like that?
At least buy a torch, maybe the ones you wrap the holder around your forehead, they look good.
Why not walk outside the park, Conyngham Road & Chapelizod Rd, well lit, straight, has a cycle lane so cyclists out of your way and there is traffic so no feelings of isolation, that's what I'd do

Nevyn

Keep clear of the papal cross and any of the residences in the park,
one side you run into dealers and people up to all sorts the other it's security.

dekbhoy

feelingstressed wrote: »

I can't say it's dodgy, I don't meet anyone there. Everywhere realy?

But back when I was fit (fat bastard now ) I used to go running in the park all the time, 10 milers a few times a week.

OP, at night it just is not possible without a torch. Well, barely possible when I did at 4am one day and that's because you can see the kerb but not the footpath.
There is feck all lighting, you'll be tripping over things.
Even along Chesterfield Avenue with the limited lighting it's extremely dark.
The cycle lane is better lit then the footpath but you meet ninja cyclists with no lights and black clothing. So stay off the cycle lane.

I'm not saying stay out of the park due to people, I've hear the Emmett Stag story but I wouldn't have a clue where to go to meet anybody, the park is a big place.
All I'll say is it's pitch black and do want to walk around somewhere like that?
At least buy a torch, maybe the ones you wrap the holder around your forehead, they look good.
Why not walk outside the park, Conyngham Road & Chapelizod Rd, well lit, straight, has a cycle lane so cyclists out of your way and there is traffic so no feelings of isolation, that's what I'd do

yes your probably right about torch although maybe that could attrct weirdoes from a distance , think i will give it a miss unless i get a bigger dog , the one i have is a small bichon friese.

Brendog

I don't think there is a single park in Ireland that is safe to walk in during night....



best just to do some laps of your garden

Degsy

Brendog wrote: »

I don't think there is a single park in Ireland that is safe to walk in during night....

QFT..this includes such illustrious havens as Stephens Green and Merrion Square..just keep out of parks at night.

Mara.

if you're lookin for some lovin, there's plenty a rentboys.

Jay D

by now I've been there at any time of the day and night. Wouldn't consider it dangerous.

fryup

Thaedydal wrote: »

Keep clear of the papal cross and any of the residences in the park,
one side you run into dealers and people up to all sorts the other it's security.

drug dealing at the papal cross:eek: JPII would be spinning in his grave

Fajitas!

I used to live beside it, I wouldn't go wandering in there after dark tbh. 90% of the place could be grand, but it could be just your look to find the wrong place.

flanzer

Depending on your dog. Rottweilers and Dobermans, yes....Pink Poodles and Chiwawas, definitely no

HavingCrack

Parks in every city never have a good reputation as places to hang around in after dark. I know a good few people who live up around there and apparently some parts (Furry Glen?? me thinks) are a tad sketchy even in the daytime. i don't know the park welll enough to say how safe it is but I'd stay out of it at night if I were you, you probably won't meet anyone you'd want to at night. Wasn't there a German girl camping there murdered a few years back???

Dancor

Ive never had a bother in the park at night. Plenty of people walking dogs and jogging.

coffee_cake

dekbhoy wrote: »

but am weary of the place after it gets dark .

Well if you're tired of it stop going

Fajitas!

Dancor wrote: »

Ive never had a bother in the park at night. Plenty of people walking dogs and jogging.

Or just plain dogging...

delta_bravo

Theres an enclosed area in the flower garden near Parkgate Street that many homeless people stay in overnight, a romanian woman was murdered there over a year ago. Its a massive area of land and should be safe but if you ever get into a spot of bother you have nowhere really to go or have anyone to help. You could walk around there at 3am all your life and be fine or you could go in once and meet another Malcolm McArthur.

daymobrew

delta_bravo wrote: »

Theres an enclosed area in the flower garden near Parkgate Street that many homeless people stay in overnight, a romanian woman was murdered there over a year ago.

I think that you are mistaken - there was a Romanian woman who was found dead on Military Road area near the Magazine Fort. This was over the August Bank Holiday weekend 2009 - it forced the rejigging of the duathlon on August 5 (I was in that race).

Degsy

daymobrew wrote: »

I think that you are mistaken - there was a Romanian woman who was found dead on Military Road area near the Magazine Fort. This was over the August Bank Holiday weekend 2009 - it forced the rejigging of the duathlon on August 5 (I was in that race).

Why didnt they just run around her,or better yet,move the body?

arybvtcw0eolkf

Mara. wrote: »

if you're lookin for some lovin, there's plenty a rentboys.

Your starting early!.

Have a yellow card :cool:

stovelid

I'd steer clear of it - and any closed city centre park - judging by anecdotal evidence. Then again, if it's a big dog.. :cool:

ordinary_girl

feelingstressed wrote: »

I'm not saying stay out of the park due to people, I've hear the Emmett Stag story but I wouldn't have a clue where to go to meet anybody, the park is a big place.

The what story?

Anyway, I wouldn't go to the Pheonix Park at night. Someone mentioned about a German student who went camping there, isn't there some rule against that a la Glendalough?

mikemac

Rest_Energy wrote: »

The what story?

I'd say you know exactly what story

I'd never heard of this aspect of the Phoenix Park until this happened

In 1994 Emmet Stagg, a Minister of State in the Fianna Fail and Labour coalition government, openly admitted indiscretion with a rent-boy in the Phoenix Park.

For weeks Stagg's resignation seemed imminent but eventually salvation came in the form of support from Tanaiste Dick Spring and Taoiseach Albert Reynolds who said "charity and restraint" should be shown to the government minister.

The Labour Party demanded a Garda inquiry into who told the press about Mr Stagg's late-night trips to the Phoenix Park. Emmet Stagg is still Labour TD for Kildare.

Late night trips to the park, it's relevant for the thread

ordinary_girl

:eek: Honestly didn't know that, I wasn't up-to-date with the news when I was 4. And there was a Tanaiste called Dick Spring? Yikes! Thanks for letting me know about it, didn't have a clue about it!

_blank_

Rest_Energy wrote: »

there was a Tanaiste called Dick Spring?

At the time, he was the only prominent politician in Europe who was named after a sex toy

Táck

Thaedydal wrote: »

one side you run into dealers and people up to all sorts

ok mam

HavingCrack

Rest_Energy wrote: »

The what story?

Anyway, I wouldn't go to the Pheonix Park at night. Someone mentioned about a German student who went camping there, isn't there some rule against that a la Glendalough?

Camping is banned there but I think she just ignored the rules. I can't seem to find a newspaper article about it but I'm almost certain I recall it happening sometime in the 90's??? Does anyone else remember that murder or is my mind playing tricks ?

Morpheus

Ive been in there at night time and found it perfectly safe... then again... i WAS carrying an assault rifle

WalterMitty

Whats a "Dick spring" ?

Gyalist

HavingCrack wrote: »

Camping is banned there but I think she just ignored the rules. I can't seem to find a newspaper article about it but I'm almost certain I recall it happening sometime in the 90's??? Does anyone else remember that murder or is my mind playing tricks ?

Your mind isn't playing tricks but you don't recall the details correctly. Two German men were attacked while camping in the Phoenix Park in summer 1991. One died and the other received serious injuries but later recovered. I can't seem to find any info online but I remember the incident clearly.

Gyalist

The apparent murder of a 26-year-old German man in a tent in the Phoenix Park came two days after the announcement that crimes against tourists were down on previous years in the Dublin area. The man and a companion were asleep in their tent when they were set upon by up to four men who beat them with clubs. The dead man suffered severe head injuries. His companion feigned unconsciousness and was tied up. He was admitted to hospital after raising the alarm. This crime has shocked public opinion here and there were many calls to the German embassy in the aftermath.

LINK

Two months ago a gang of youths leaving a pub around midnight beat a man senseless on the city's main avenue, O'Connell Street. A German camper was mugged and killed last summer in Phoenix Park, a few steps from the residences of President Mary Robinson and the American Ambassador, Richard A. Moore. From Homicide to Hepplewhite

LINK