The Phoenix Park is not called after a bird at all but stems from Phenix House which was built for the king's representative in Ireland on lands north of the Liffey in 1618. His Majesty's House at the Phenix, as it was officially referred to, was named for the spring well found on the site. Fionn-Uisce, in Irish, meaning "pure water" was rendered as Phenix which later mistakenly became Phoenix, after the mythical bird.
This information comes from The Residence of the President of Ireland, an informative little book produced by Aras an Uachtarain and published by the OPW on the initiative of the President. Under Mrs McAleese there has been a greater number of visitors from the North to the Aras than before and they come from both traditions, as they say up there - loyalists and nationalists. Many nationalists have a good idea of the history of the house - that it and the houses it replaced were vice regal lodges for 400 years - but loyalists may know nothing of its background or, as Quidnunc has sometimes found, nothing at all about the history of Ireland.
The book aims to address this deficiency in some visitors, further inform others and emphasise that both traditions are represented in and are part of the residence. In her introduction, the President says the Aras has known many different lives and has been a witness to history in the making. "Today a confident, mature Ireland takes pride in the faithful preservation of this house, whose life and times embrace both British rule and Irish independence in a unique way . . . Look out the window and you will see trees planted by Queen Victoria and Pope John Paul II. Check the record of distinguished visitors and discover that King George V stayed here when he came to open the Royal College of Science."
As well as the history of the house and area from the 12th century, the book tells how ambassadors present their credentials there, dignitaries are received there, taoisigh resign there and new ministers get their seals of office there. The first sitting of each new government is held there.
The book is written by Richard Stokes and co-ordinated by Brian McCarthy, secretary to the President. It is available only to visitors to the Aras, which is open to the public on Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.