I was with my family there about 30 years ago and rang the bell on the gate. The caretaker came out and I asked was there any chance of a tour. He said no at first but changed his mind and invited us in although he did say it was against policy. He gave us not only a full tour but the history of the place from the time it was originally a residence (He told us who owned it but I cant recall) to becoming fortified with walls around that had indentations for shots to be placed right up to the IRA attack and what happened after. Apparently the free state army refused to use the British army guardroom and chose to billet below the old British army guardhouse, this meant they were pinned down by an IRA sniper and couldn't exit up the steps. He had my young kids do a party piece in the large magazines where there was an echo. He had been stationed there during the thirties or forties(I cant remember)I think and when he became caretaker he discovered there were a number of phosphorus bombs still there where they had been acquired by a relation of De Valera who had been selling to other countries. The EOD was called to remove these. He told me there was an arch over the Main gate that was removed during the sixties so trucks with government ministers could enter to take refuge in the bunkers in the event of a nuclear attack. He also said there was a tunnel going from the magazine fort to St Mary's hospital which was blocked and another tunnel going to Kilmainam Hospital. Over all we spent about 3 hours in the place and was given a fascinating and historical tour. There was talk at the time of the Bord of Works doing up the fort and also building a Café there and tourist office. Apparently there were four VCR covering the history of the fort and were on sale for 25 pounds a bit too dear for me at the time
Thank you for taking the time to make this video. My Dad John lived here in the late sixties and early seventies, my grandad was the caretaker in his latter years as a CQMS, after hearing stories of dads childhood for years wishing we could see inside, this is fantastic !
such great memories of holidays there with my 3 girls visiting my dad,he was caretaker in the 80's.soooo sad its gone to rack and ruin,what a waste,i was once told it was to be made into a museum,but alas that has'nt happened!my poor dad r.i.p. would be upset about the condition of it now!
I remember your father well,ive fond memory of how kind and gentle he was. He either liked you or he didnt. My father and he had many many of a deep convo. Cant believe im speaking to his daughter after so many years
My favorite thing ever is exploring abandoned places. I'm here in Dublin for the week. Any chance you want to go out with me and see the creepy side of Dublin!
I believe this place is haunted, one time, myself and my kids got through a gap in the metal barrier, and started exploring, we went into a kind of hangar type building, we were walking around it for a few mins, the heard a male's voice shouting get out! but there was no one visible, and there was only one entry and exit, and the voice came from the back of this hangar, well we ran out of there and nearly jumped that fencing, its a spooky creepy place
I grew up in Cabra and spent many very pleasant years fighting Indians and outlaws in the Phoenix Park , the magazine always fascinated us, great footage now i know
The usual shite in this country historic buildings been let rot into the ground. The Magazine could be used as a museum or something along them lines and its in the park in the middle of a capitol city.
I knew the family who lived there in the 60/70s it was a cold place. The Father was in the Army and was the Custodian of the Keys. Cant recall was he was protecting
The army used it until the early 90s i think for storage. I remember talking to a man who was a caretaker in there and it would have been the early 90s i think. I don't know what ever happened to him he's prob dead now, r.i.p he was getting on a bit back then but he was a lovely chap to talk too he was very knowledgeable i just wish i could remember the stories he told me he had an english accent if i'm not mistaking.
he was my father,he died in 2000,but he did know all about the history of the fort!my 3 older girls used it as a playground whilst we were on holiday from england
My father was in the IRA and carried out a raid on that fort in Christmas 1939: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Raid. I'd love to 'raid' it again some day and have a look around.
+Mike Brady Legend! I think the interior may be boarded up somewhat at the moment (a good idea considering the floors are rotten), but I strongly recommend a visit when the sun comes out; bring a picnic and make a day of it!
i used to visit my dad at the fort with my three girls for a holiday,he was caretaker there in 80',until he retired and returned to england although he is a dubliner born and bred!he has been dead a few years,but i'm glad he can't see it now!my girls had a lot of fun there,i have many photos etc from that time!
+RocYoKicks Some effort is required in climbing the gates (there are two). But it's ok. If you do go in, take snacks and water; you won't be in a hurry to go back over the gates on the way out.
+RocYoKicks I think that's just me turning around inside a tower and it looks different from the inside. I don't think there are nice ways of getting over the walls unless you bring some equipment. If you're at all into climbing you should be grand on the gate. But defo bring water and a lunch so it's worth it. Maybe a beer as well.
in the early 2000s when i was depressed i used to climb over into this place and explore on my own.. it was an escape
Cool comment. I know what you mean.
I was with my family there about 30 years ago and rang the bell on the gate. The caretaker came out and I asked was there any chance of a tour. He said no at first but changed his mind and invited us in although he did say it was against policy. He gave us not only a full tour but the history of the place from the time it was originally a residence (He told us who owned it but I cant recall) to becoming fortified with walls around that had indentations for shots to be placed right up to the IRA attack and what happened after. Apparently the free state army refused to use the British army guardroom and chose to billet below the old British army guardhouse, this meant they were pinned down by an IRA sniper and couldn't exit up the steps. He had my young kids do a party piece in the large magazines where there was an echo. He had been stationed there during the thirties or forties(I cant remember)I think and when he became caretaker he discovered there were a number of phosphorus bombs still there where they had been acquired by a relation of De Valera who had been selling to other countries. The EOD was called to remove these. He told me there was an arch over the Main gate that was removed during the sixties so trucks with government ministers could enter to take refuge in the bunkers in the event of a nuclear attack. He also said there was a tunnel going from the magazine fort to St Mary's hospital which was blocked and another tunnel going to Kilmainam Hospital. Over all we spent about 3 hours in the place and was given a fascinating and historical tour. There was talk at the time of the Bord of Works doing up the fort and also building a Café there and tourist office. Apparently there were four VCR covering the history of the fort and were on sale for 25 pounds a bit too dear for me at the time
Thank you for taking the time to make this video. My Dad John lived here in the late sixties and early seventies, my grandad was the caretaker in his latter years as a CQMS, after hearing stories of dads childhood for years wishing we could see inside, this is fantastic !
such great memories of holidays there with my 3 girls visiting my dad,he was caretaker in the 80's.soooo sad its gone to rack and ruin,what a waste,i was once told it was to be made into a museum,but alas that has'nt happened!my poor dad r.i.p. would be upset about the condition of it now!
I remember your father well,ive fond memory of how kind and gentle he was. He either liked you or he didnt. My father and he had many many of a deep convo.
Cant believe im speaking to his daughter after so many years
My favorite thing ever is exploring abandoned places. I'm here in Dublin for the week. Any chance you want to go out with me and see the creepy side of Dublin!
This was recorded in late 2012. The best way in is via the front gates, which are tricky to negotiate.
I believe this place is haunted, one time, myself and my kids got through a gap in the metal barrier, and started exploring, we went into a kind of hangar type building, we were walking around it for a few mins, the heard a male's voice shouting get out! but there was no one visible, and there was only one entry and exit, and the voice came from the back of this hangar, well we ran out of there and nearly jumped that fencing, its a spooky creepy place
A brilliant vido I have never seen the inside until now,it could be done up with FAS and opened as an attraction for everyone
One of the other posts above refers to the caretaker in later years. You should reply to him said nice things.
Thank you so much for all of the great videos of Dublin History...
I grew up in Cabra and spent many very pleasant years fighting Indians and outlaws in the Phoenix Park , the magazine always fascinated us, great footage now i know
was many times there, but never inside..... love this place!
It's a disgrace how the irish government allow places like the Fort to go to ruin. I loved this place as a kid.
The usual shite in this country historic buildings been let rot into the ground. The Magazine could be used as a museum or something along them lines and its in the park in the middle of a capitol city.
TOTALLY AGREE WHAT A WASTE LIKE ALL THE MILITARY BARRACKS THEY CLOSED DOWN .
Great video, trained for years on the trails around the Fort and always wondered what it was like inside..Thanks
I knew the family who lived there in the 60/70s it was a cold place.
The Father was in the Army and was the Custodian of the Keys.
Cant recall was he was protecting
The army used it until the early 90s i think for storage. I remember talking to a man who was a caretaker in there and it would have been the early 90s i think. I don't know what ever happened to him he's prob dead now, r.i.p he was getting on a bit back then but he was a lovely chap to talk too he was very knowledgeable i just wish i could remember the stories he told me he had an english accent if i'm not mistaking.
he was my father,he died in 2000,but he did know all about the history of the fort!my 3 older girls used it as a playground whilst we were on holiday from england
My father was in the IRA and carried out a raid on that fort in Christmas 1939:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Raid. I'd love to 'raid' it again some day and have a look around.
+Mike Brady Legend! I think the interior may be boarded up somewhat at the moment (a good idea considering the floors are rotten), but I strongly recommend a visit when the sun comes out; bring a picnic and make a day of it!
Yep. Myself and a nephew have been threatening to do this for ages... one of these days...
+Mike Brady I do strongly recommend a picnic. You'll be wrecked after the climb over those gates.
A great story, it would be greets to hear it from someone who was there or at least your stories.
i used to visit my dad at the fort with my three girls for a holiday,he was caretaker there in 80',until he retired and returned to england although he is a dubliner born and bred!he has been dead a few years,but i'm glad he can't see it now!my girls had a lot of fun there,i have many photos etc from that time!
I used to "visit" the fort when I was a kid, it was great fun, pity its been left to go to shite all these years.
great stuff
thank you!
Love it thank you. Have played football in its shadow for many years. Always wanted to know what was in there.
Great video fair play play
how dis you get in, the gate is chained
how hard is it to climb the gate?
+RocYoKicks Some effort is required in climbing the gates (there are two). But it's ok. If you do go in, take snacks and water; you won't be in a hurry to go back over the gates on the way out.
+thebettyfordclinic OK thanks. and I saw at 30:53 there's a whole in the wall, where would that lead to?
+RocYoKicks I think that's just me turning around inside a tower and it looks different from the inside. I don't think there are nice ways of getting over the walls unless you bring some equipment. If you're at all into climbing you should be grand on the gate. But defo bring water and a lunch so it's worth it. Maybe a beer as well.
when was it? how did u get inside?
That would be the proper way to do it. It's that or climb.
Did you have to organise being let in to film the fort?
Wow
I can't belive I live so close and ive never been
One day the gates were open. I walked right in.
What a shame could have made a brilliant hotel complex!
typo= then heard
Would make a fantastic hotel and spa and tennis centre ,,, we should sell it to Trump for a golf course ,,,
Woq