parks – symposium

PARKS – SYMPOSIUM
Farmleigh, Phoenix Park
7th April, 2017
In collaboration with The Royal Parks, London, this Symposium
gives a behind-the-scenes look at these magnificent parks,
including St James’s Park, Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park
and Richmond Park. Even though the formation of Ireland’s
only “Royal” Deer Park commenced in 1662, Phoenix Park
represents a unique natural and cultural landscape that is
both a historic park and an urban park, managed by The
Office of Public Works.
This contemporary international exhibition will showcase
artefacts, images, maps and paintings spanning over three
centuries of park history. The exhibition will focus on the
following themes: early years and formation, celebration and
commemoration, people at play, military and the war years,
and park management. All of London’s royal parks will be
showcased alongside the Phoenix Park.
The exhibition runs from 7th April to 28th May 2017 in
Farmleigh Gallery.
The Symposium is free and all are welcome. However,
booking is essential as places are limited.
For further information and booking confirmation email
raychel.coyle@opw.ie or call 01 820 5800
Chairperson
Margaret Gormley
Chief Park Superintendent, OPW
10.00amWelcome
John McMahon
Commissioner,
OPW
10.10am
The Amazing Benefits Parks bestow on us
Kevin Halpenny
Senior Parks Superintendent,
Fingal County Council
10.40am
Managing for the Future while caring for
the Past
11.10am
Simon Richards
Head of Park Operations,
The Royal Parks
The History of Irish Deer Parks
Terence Reeves-Smyth
Chairman, Northern Ireland Heritage
Gardens Trust
11.40am
Supporting Apprentice Gardeners
Mike Fitt
Chairman,
Royal Parks Guild
12.00pm
Light refreshments
Chairperson 12.30pm
01.00pm
01.20pm
Mark Wasilewski
Park Manager, St James’s Park & The Green Park
How Ireland is growing its own
Fionnuala Fallon
Irish Times Gardening Journalist & Horticulturist
The Phoenix Park — Past & Present
Paul McDonnell
Park Superintendent, OPW
Honest Tom Wharton and his Star Fort
Dr Edward McParland
Architectural Historian & Author,
Trinity College Dublin
01.45pm
Lunch
02.30pm
Curators Tour of Exhibition
Rheme Fordham
The Hearsum Collection
and Dr John A. McCullen
Landscape Historian & Author
03.00pm–
04.00pm
Park Superintendent’s Network Meeting
with Northern Ireland Park Managers —
Lead by Danny McCartney
Strabane District Council
and Ruairí Ó Dúlaing
Dun Laoghaire, Rathdown Co Co

Download Report