Aras an Uachtarain will never be the same again. Dublin Zoo is now installed in the 30 acres bordering its northern perimeter, which was handed over to it two years ago. A new fence has been erected to keep the wild animals, which will be arriving shortly in the African Safari, as it is called, away from our Head of State. The first part of the zoo's extension will open on June 1st and the rest in August. The Aras has lost its lake and its City Gate entrance, and although still a substantial property on 130 acres, it has, according to some who have viewed it, lost an essential part. It was designed as a unit which has now been destroyed, critics say. The grand sweep from the City Gate to the house is gone.
The zoo was desperately in need of extra space and the idea of taking some land from the Aras was suggested nearly three years ago. The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, is a long-standing and strong supporter of Dublin Zoo, which is in his constituency, and is conscious of its needs. Plans to hand over the land during the interregnum between the presidencies of Mary Robin- son and Mary McAleese were thwarted when the former President insisted she was merely a short-term tenant and refused to take any longterm decisions affecting a public property.
The OPW subsequently went ahead with the transfer after consultation with the President, Mrs McAleese, after rejecting suggestions that the Polo Grounds and/or The Hollow be taken instead, on the grounds that these were public spaces. Now the main entry to the Aras is by the Phoenix Gate near the US ambassador's residence, with an extra entrance on the other side and a third, "Mrs Buggy's gate", which is used by the Garda mounted unit based in the newly refurbished stables beside the house. Another change is that the old indoor racket court, installed by a viceroy, has been renovated and will be used for exhibitions and receptions, instead of marquees.