Photographed By William Murphy - Select Image To View Photographs

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WELL WORTH A VISIT

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Glasnevin Cemetery: Ireland’s City of the Dead

Situated just north of Dublin city centre, Glasnevin Cemetery is far more than a mere burial ground; it is a sprawling, 124-acre "Necropolis" that serves as a stone-carved archive of the Irish nation. Established in 1832 by the "Liberator" Daniel O’Connell, the cemetery was founded on the revolutionary principle that people of all religions—and none—should be buried with dignity.

A Legacy of Liberation

Before Glasnevin opened, Irish Catholics faced severe restrictions under the Penal Laws, which often prohibited them from performing traditional funeral rites in public. O’Connell’s vision created a non-denominational space that eventually became the final resting place for over 1.5 million people—a population larger than that of modern-day Dublin.

Notable Burials and Landmarks

The cemetery is a "who’s who" of Irish history, featuring some of the most iconic figures in the struggle for independence and cultural identity:

Daniel O’Connell: His remains lie in an ornate crypt at the base of the O’Connell Tower, the tallest round tower in Ireland. Visitors can climb its 198 steps for panoramic views of the city.

Michael Collins: Perhaps the most visited grave in the cemetery, the resting place of the "Big Fella" is perpetually adorned with fresh flowers from admirers.

Charles Stewart Parnell: Known as the "Uncrowned King of Ireland," his grave is marked by a massive granite boulder simply inscribed with his surname.

Countess Markievicz: A key figure in the 1916 Easter Rising and the first woman elected to the British Parliament.

Literary Giants: The cemetery also holds the remains of poet Gerard Manley Hopkins, writer Brendan Behan, and the legendary folk singer Luke Kelly.

The Experience Glasnevin Museum

To truly grasp the weight of the site, the Experience Glasnevin visitor centre offers award-winning exhibitions. The "City of the Dead" gallery explores the social history of burial practices, while the Genealogy Research Centre allows visitors to dig into their own Irish ancestry using the cemetery's extensive digital records.

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