cemetery tour dublin

Glasnevin Cemetery Dublin: Where You’ll Discover The Stories Of 1.5 Million People

By Author James March

Posted on Last updated: January 2, 2024

A visit to the historic Glasnevin Cemetery is one of the most popular things to do in Dublin .

Almost 200 years old and acting as the final resting place of 1.5+ million people, the stories Glasnevin holds within its walls would stretch across the Atlantic.

There are multiple tours to choose from, including, The Irish History Tour, The O’Connell Tower Tour, The Self Guided Tour and the Extra-Ordinary Lives Tour (info on each below).

In this guide, you’ll find everything from the history of Glasnevin Cemetery and its opening hours to what to see while you’re there.

Table of Contents

Some quick need-to-knows about Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin

Photo by Yulia Plekhanova (Shutterstock)

Although a visit to Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.

1. Location

Lying around 3km north of the city centre, you can take either the 40 or 140 bus from O’Connell Street which will drop you right outside the entrance on Finglas Road.

2. Admission + opening hours

Wander through the cemetery and enjoy its serenity every day from 9am until 5pm. The opening hours for the visitor centre are every day from 10am to 5pm. The various tours are priced differently. You’ll find info on each below.

So, there’s a parking at Glasnevin Cemetery for up to 30 cars. You’ll also have to pay €2 (price may change). There’s more parking across the road ( here on Google Maps – across from the Tower Cafe).

4. The tours

One fascinating thing about Glasnevin is the breadth of tours on offer that really showcase Irish history at its most illuminating. We’ll get into the details of them a little later, but definitely consider booking on to one of them during your time there!

5. The stories of 1.5 million people

Almost 200 years old, the stories Glasnevin holds within its walls would stretch across the Atlantic. From political struggle to inspired poetry, there are some serious tales to be told by icons of Irish history! Not only that; they’re also the stories of the ordinary folk who’ve made Dublin what it is today.

The history of Glasnevin Cemetery

Photo ©Tourism Ireland via Ireland’s Content Pool

The history of Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin is an interesting one, and it’s arguably best discovered on one of the tours (info later in the guide).

Now, I just want to emphasise that the history of Glasnevin Cemetery outlined below is a brief one, and I won’t do it justice in just a few paragraphs.

The need for a Catholic burial ground

Before the founding of Glasnevin, Catholics in Dublin had had no cemeteries of their own in which to bury their dead. The regressive Penal Laws had placed restrictions on Catholics over the course of a couple of centuries, including the public performance of their own services and funerals.

When a Catholic priest attempted a limited version of a funeral mass in 1823 provoked a public outcry, things started to get heated and Daniel O’Connell launched a campaign pushing for the opening of a burial ground in which both Irish Catholics and Protestants could give their dead dignified burial.

Nine years later, Glasnevin Cemetery was consecrated and opened to the public for the first time on 21 February 1832

The opening and its early years

The following day, the cemetery’s first burial took place in a section of the cemetery known as Curran’s Square and it was that of eleven-year-old Michael Carey from Francis Street in Dublin.

The plot of land used for Glasnevin was quite large (originally 9 acres but has now swelled to 124 acres) and, perhaps inevitably, it became a significant place of burial for those who lost their lives during the Great Famine of the 1840s.

In fact, it’s estimated that nearly 800,000 people are buried in Glasnevin in unmarked mass graves due to the famine and a later cholera epidemic.

A whole host of famous names

While Glasnevin contains the burial records of almost 1.5 million people, one of its undeniable attractions is the number of well-known Irish national figures who are also buried there.

Prominent political figures buried at Glasnevin include nationalist leader Michael Collins, third president of Ireland Éamon de Valera, Catholic politician and campaigner Daniel O’Connell, and nationalist MP Charles Stewart Parnell.

From the art world, there are the graves of Dubliners musician Luke Kelly, poet and novelist Brendan Behan and writer and painter Christy Brown.

The different Glasnevin Cemetery tours

Photo left: Alexebb. Photo right: David Soanes (Shutterstock)

The Glasnevin Cemetery tour is well worth doing. And there are 4 different types to choose from, depending on how you like to explore.

You can book tickets for each of the Glasnevin Cemetery Museum and ground tours online (see links under each tour below).

1. Irish History Tour

There are plenty of famous names buried at Glasnevin, but what gives them such significance? Take Glasnevin’s Irish History Tour to learn a whole lot more about the people and the events that contributed to Ireland’s turbulent last couple of centuries.

Expert tour guides will explain the 1916 Easter Rising and the Civil War, all while taking you around the graves of famous protagonists such as Michael Collins and Countess Markievicz.

The tour also includes a stop at the ornate crypt of cemetery founder Daniel O’Connell and you’ll hear insights into the intricate monuments and Celtic crosses that populate the grounds. Public tours are €13 (concession €11) while family tickets are €35 (2 Adults + up to 4 Children). You can book them online .

2. The Extra-Ordinary Lives Tour

With 1.5 million people buried within the grounds of Glasnevin Cemetry, you can only imagine the incredible lives that many of these people lived. 

Join an experienced tour guide to learn about some of the incredible achievements and extra-ordinary lives of Dublin’s dead. You’ll visit the final resting place of writer Brendan Behan and learn more about the man who once famously described himself as a “drinker with a writing problem.” 

Make your way through the cemetery, hearing about the life of poet and novelist Rosa Mulholland before heading back in time to the opening of Glasnevin and visiting its first inhabitant, Michael Carey, who was buried here in February 1982.

The tour runs every Saturday at 1 pm. 

3. The O’Connell Tower Tour

While his name probably doesn’t have the same emotional resonance as Michael Collins or Luke Kelly, Daniel O’Connell is the most important name at Glasnevin, as the cemetery wouldn’t even exist without him.

Fittingly, his burial spot is grander than the others and the O’Connell Tower Tour will explain all about his significance. When you visit his ornate crypt, you’ll find out why he was known as ‘The Liberator’ and how the famous Tower came into existence.

Speaking of the Tower, are you willing to climb all 198 steps to the top? If so, you’ll be treated to some deadly panoramic views over Dublin from the not-insignificant height of 55-metres!

4. The Self-Guided Tour

If you’d prefer to go around Glasnevin by yourself, then of course, you’re welcome to do just that on the self-guided tour .

For €8, you’ll get an audio guide and a Glasnevin Cemetery map that’ll help you explore the ‘key graves’ within its walls.

Each tour ticket includes admission to a new indoor visitor experience which boasts a wide variety of exhibits, archives and interactive displays.

Things to do near Glasnevin Cemetery

One of the reasons that a visit to the Glasnevin Cemetery Museum is one of the most popular day trips from Dublin City is due to the volume of things there are to see and do.

Below, you’ll find places to visit a stone’s throw from the Glasnevin Cemetery tour, from one of the oldest pubs in Dublin to the brilliant Botanic Gardens.

1. National Botanic Gardens

Photo left: kstuart. Photo right: Nick Woodards (Shutterstock)

Situated next door to Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin, the National Botanic Gardens offer the chance for further leafy peaceful solace but this time without all the dead people! Founded in 1795, they house approximately 20,000 living plants and many millions of dried plant specimens across 48 acres.

2. Croke Park

Photos via Shutterstock

Nearby Glasnevin lies Croke Park , Dublin’s iconic Gaelic football stadium. Don’t forget, there doesn’t need to be a game happening to enjoy a visit there! Take a Stadium Tour to learn about Croke Park’s interesting history and then get a cracking view of Dublin from above on the Skyline Tour!

3. Endless attractions in the city

Photo by Mike Drosos (Shutterstock)

Head back down south towards the city centre but stop by at Parnell Square to celebrate some of Dublin’s finest literary artists at the Dublin Writers Museum or the James Joyce Centre. Continue on down O’Connell Street if you want to see Trinity College and Temple Bar . Staying north of the Liffey, the Jameson Bow St Distillery is just a 15-minute walk from Parnell Square.

4. Food and trad pubs

Photos by The Irish Road Trip

You can’t spend time in Glasnevin without going for a pint at the legendary ‘Gravediggers’ pub, otherwise known as John Kavanagh. This no-nonsense pub does arguably the best Guinness in Dublin .

FAQs about the Glasnevin Cemetery tour

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘Can you walk around Glasnevin Cemetery?’ (you can) to ‘Is there parking at Glasnevin Cemetery?’ (there is).

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

Is the Glasnevin Cemetery tour worth doing?

Yes. The history of Glasnevin Cemetery is a long and fascinating one, and the tours are delivered by energetic and experienced guides.

How much are tickets for the Glasnevin Cemetery Museum?

Ticket prices vary, depending on the type of tour you choose (there are 4). Each ticket also gives you admission to the new indoor Glasnevin Cemetery Museum/visitor experience.

Where do you get parking at Glasnevin Cemetery?

So, there’s parking at Glasnevin Cemetery for up to 30 cars. You’ll also have to pay €2. There’s more parking across the road (across from the Tower Cafe).

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Glasnevin Museum & Cemetery Tour

• See the final resting place of key Irish figures such as Michael Collins, Charles Stewart Parnell, Éamon de Valera, Countess Markievicz, Maud Gonne, Luke Kelly and Brendan Behan
• Visit the iconic O'Connell round tower, and see the O'Connell Crypt
• Discover great exhibitions at Glasnevin Museum, and explore the lives of the most influential figures in Irish history.

Glasnevin Cemetery - A Background

Glasnevin Cemetery was established by legendary Irish statesman Daniel O'Connell in 1832. Key figures from Irish history and culture have been laid to rest within these grounds such as: Michael Collins, Charles Stewart Parnell, Éamon de Valera, Countess Markievicz, Maud Gonne, Luke Kelly and Brendan Behan to name but a few. The impressive site just outside Dublin City spans 124 acres, boasting a vast array of ornate sculptures, Celtic crosses, stunning flowers & trees, and the famous O'Connell Round Tower.

A guided tour is the recommended way to get an insight into all the Glasnevin has to offer. Guides are dedicated and knowledgeable, and their passionate storytelling will ensure that you have a fantastic experience on your visit to Glasnevin Cemetary.

Glasnevin Museum

The interactive Museum on site contains award-winning exhibitions including "The City of the Dead" and numerous photographs from the cemetery's history. It is suitable for all ages. You can also search for your family surname in the computer database and possibly learn more about your ancestors.

Dead Interesting Tour

This award winning tour of Glasnevin Cemetery offers a unique overview of the cemetery’s varied sculptures, symbolism and architecture. Learn which sporting heroes rest here, hear about the horticulture and natural life that thrives among the dead, and pass the vault that was pivotal in the Irish War of Independence.

General History Tour

Let your guide regale the tales of colorful souls who shaped Irish history. Ulster Covenant, The First World War, The Easter Rising and The War of Independence will all be unearthed and dissected via enjoyable historical anecdotes. Plus, see the graves of Irish heroes including Eamon DeValera, Michael Collins, Countess Markievicz and more.

The O'Connell Tower

The O'Connell Tower in Glasnevin Cemetery is one of the most iconic round towers in Ireland, and one which offers breath-taking panoramic views of Dublin. The tower can now be explored despite being destroyed by a bomb in 1971 - after a lengthly restoration project. It is Ireland’s tallest round tower and stands at 180 feet. Built in 1854, it is the tombstone of the great liberator, Daniel O’Connell, who lies in an ornately decorated family crypt at the base of the tower.

Glasnevin Cemetery Museum Tickets

There are many ticket options available for Glasnevin Tickets - including museum / tower / and cemetery tour combination tickets. For full ticket details, please visit the Glasnevin Cemetery Museum website.

Getting to Glasnevin Cemetary Museum

Glasnevin Cemetery is located close the the stunning National Botanic Gardens . Croke Park Museum and Stadium Tour  is closeby also.

From O'Connell Street, you can take the the 4,9,40,83 or 140 to Glasnevin Cemetery Museum. Visit dublinbus.ie for full details, and to plan your journey.

There is a DART station in Drumcondra which is a 20 minute walk from Glasnevin Cemetery. Visit Irish Rail for details.

It's a great idea to cycle to Glasnevin, and you'll get there quicker than some other modes. There is plenty of space to securely park your bike at Glasneving.

There are fascinating walking trails to follow if you plan on walking from Dublin City. Visit Glasnevin Museum's website for full information.

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Glasnevin Cemetery Guided Walking Tour

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Since 1828, more than 1.5 million people have been interred in Glasnevin - rich and famous, paupers and politicians, artists, warriors and heroes, all resting side by side in this renowned Victorian Garden Cemetery. Established by Daniel O’Connell as a place where people of “all religions and none” could bury their dead with dignity; the cemetery has grown to become a national monument and is a vital part of the Irish Heritage story.

Tours: Key to Glasnevin’s success is the popularity of the tour guides whose enthusiasm is compelling. Brimming with banter and charm each tour guide is passionate about sharing their love of heritage and history. There is inspiration around every corner and at every grave, and with one and a half million stories buried in Glasnevin, there’s no shortage of tales to tell.

General History Tours- Daily at 11:30, 13:30 and 14:30 (12:30 extra tour at the weekend)

Interactive exhibitions, dramatic re-enactments and daily walking tours visiting many of the renowned figures that shaped Ireland including Charles Stewart Parnell, Roger Casement, Eamon De Valera, Michael Collins, Constance Markievicz, Brendan Behan, Luke Kelly and Daniel O'Connell. An unique opportunity to gain an understanding of Ireland's complex and fascinating history. Visit inside Daniel O'Connell's Celtic Romantic designed Crypt and iconic tower, the tallest in Ireland, forms part of the tour.

Trace Your Ancestors

A genealogy research area, where access to the extensive online records can be accessed is a must for those researching their ancestry.

Visit the museum shop, home to a beautiful collection of Irish crafts, jewellery, mementos, historical books, and other interesting gifts.

1916 Exhibition

The majority of those killed during the 1916 Easter Rising are buried in Glasnevin Cemetery. Here we hold the stories of those who participated in and witnessed this defining moment in Irish history, from Volunteers to Fusiliers and everyone in between. Starting this year special 1916 tours of the cemetery will take place telling the story of Easter week through the lives of those ordinary and extraordinary figures buried here.

All freshly made cakes, scones, salads and artisan sandwiches are prepared on a daily basis and what better way to end a visit to the museum with a fresh bite to eat, cup of coffee or a sweet treat.

Experience Glasnevin - Ireland's National Cemetery

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Glasnevin Cemetery – tours, Museum, O’Connel Tower, hours, what to see

Glasnevin Cemetery and Museum is an award-winning Dublin attraction and gets more than half a million visitors annually.

Tourists visit Glasnevin to hear fascinating stories of those laid to rest in the Cemetery, see the stunning collection of statues and headstones, and to understand the history of modern Ireland.

It is one of the most beautiful and historically significant sites in the whole country.

In this article, we share everything you must know before booking your Glasnevin Cemetery tour.

Top Glasnevin Cemetery Tickets

# General History Tour # Dead Interesting Tour # Dublin Pass

Table of contents

How to reach glasnevin cemetery, glasnevin cemetery hours, how long does glasnevin cemetery take, general history tour, dead interesting tour, glasnevin cemetery free entry, city of the dead, the milestone gallery, the prospect gallery, o’connell tower, michael collins’ grave, the cross of sacrifice, gravediggers pub, national botanic gardens, glasnevin cemetery facts.

Glasnevin Cemetery is on the Finglas Road, 2.5 km (1.5 Miles) from Dublin’s city center.

Bus to Glasnevin

Bus Numbers 4, 9, 40, 83, and 140 can take you to Glasnevin Cemetery Museum.

If you are traveling from Dublin City Center, board one of these buses from  O’Connell Street .

There is a bus every 8 to 10 minutes. 

By Hop-On Hop-Off Bus

You can also use the Dublin Hop-On Hop-Off tour bus to get to the Glasnevin Cemetery.

Between the  City Sightseeing’s bus tour  and  Big Bus Open-Top bus tours , we recommend the latter because of their better ratings. 

In Dublin, these HOHO buses usually start at 9 am and continue till 6 pm. With a lot of coaches, the frequency is every 15–20 minutes.

Car to Glasnevin

Glasnevin Cemetery Car Park has 80 slots for cars and six for coaches. 

Usually, there is no shortage of parking slots because right across the road is St. Paul’s Car Park.

They have 40 more spaces, including four reserved for persons with disabilities.

The parking fee is 2 Euros per hour.

To Glasnevin by train

The Dublin Area Rapid Transit system (DART) is an electrified commuter rail railway network serving the coastline and city center of Dublin. 

Drumcondra  is the DART station closest to the cemetery. 

A brisk 20-minute walk can help you cover the 1.6 Kms (1 Mile) distance from the Station to the Cemetery.

Back to Top

From April 1 to September 30, Glasnevin Cemetery opens at 10 am and closes at 6 pm every day, and from October 1 to March 31, it continues to open at 10 am but closes early at 5 pm. 

Exceptional Timings

On a few days in a year, Glasnevin follows different opening hours – 

St Patricks Day: 10 am to 6 pm Easter Monday: 10 am to 6 pm May Day: 10 am to 6 pm June Holidays: 10 am to 6 pm August Holidays: 10 am to 6 pm October Holidays: 10 am to 5 pm

Every year, the Glasnevin Cemetery Museum remains closed on three days – New Year’s Day (January 1), Christmas (December 25), and St Stephen’s Day (December 26). 

Visitors need at least two hours to explore Glasnevin Cemetery – ninety minutes for the public walking tour of the Cemetry and approximately thirty minutes to explore the Glasnevin Museum. 

If you plan to climb up the O’Connell Tower, you will need half an hour more.

Some visitors are known to walk around the greens of the cemetery for hours to take in the beautiful views. 

Glasnevin Cemetery tours

Since Glasnevin Cemetery is massive (124 acres!) with lots of graves, decorative sculptures, Celtic crosses, and stunning flowers & trees, a guided tour is the best way to explore this tourist attraction. 

Even when visitors do not know Irish history, the well-trained guides weave a story so good that it becomes a world-class experience for everybody.

Check out the video to get a sense of what to expect on a Glasnevin Cemetery tour – 

Glasnevin Cemetery offers two kinds of tours – 

• The General History tour
• The Dead Interesting Tour

Entry to the Glasnevin Cemetery Museum is part of both these tours. 

A climb up the O’Connell tower is not part of these tours, but while booking your tour tickets, you can include the Tower climb by paying a little extra. 

Since both these tours are timed, you must reach the cemetery’s reception at least 15 minutes before.

We explain both the tours in greater detail below – 

More than 95% of the visitors opt for the General History tour, making it the most popular Glasnevin Cemetery tour. 

During this 90-minutes tour, the guide takes you to the graves of people who shaped the course of Irish history. 

Here are some of the highlights of the tour – 

• Crypt of O’Connell, the Irish political leader
• Burial place of Michael Collins, the most famous grave in the cemetery
• The Republican plot, where combatants or members of various Irish republican organizations have got buried 
• Graves of James Larkin, Maud Gonne, Grace Gifford, and many more famous Irish figures
• A re-enactment of Pádraig Pearse’s famous speech ( video ) delivered in 1915 at the graveside of Jeremiah O’Donovan-Rossa. This re-construction happens at the same spot every day at 2.30 pm.

This experience is an every day tour, and you must choose from two slots – 11.30 am or 2.30 pm. 

You can upgrade the General History tour and add a climb up the O’Connell Tower, which is a half an hour experience. 

Ticket price (without Tower climb)

Adult ticket (18 to 64 years): 14.5 Euros Seniors ticket (65+ years): 12 Euros Child ticket (5 to 17 years): 12 Euros Student ticket (with valid ID): 12 Euros

Ticket price (with Tower climb)

Adult ticket (18 to 64 years): 22 Euros Seniors ticket (65+ years): 17 Euros Child ticket (5 to 17 years): 17 Euros Student ticket (with valid ID): 17 Euros

Ticket price (Family of 2 adults & 2 kids):  40 Euros

During this tour, you won’t visit the graves of acclaimed Irish politicians or revolutionaries but instead, check out the burial spots of lesser-known people who lived extraordinary lives. 

This tour is ideal for visitors who have already been on the ‘General History tour’ or those who want to get an alternative view of the varied heritage that Ireland’s largest cemetery has to offer. 

The highlights of this tour are: 

• The grave of the man who opened Sydney Harbour Bridge – when he wasn’t supposed to
• Burial spot of the woman who died once but got buried twice
• The tomb that held IRA’s secrets during the War of Independence
• Exploring the sculpture, symbolism, architecture of Glasnevin, which makes it Ireland’s outdoor Art Gallery

The Dead Interesting Tour is only available on weekends and Bank holidays and starts at 1 pm. 

This ticket also gets you a 10% discount at the Tower Cafe.

*If you prefer, you can book the Tower Climb at the venue.

If you have the Dublin Pass , it is possible to explore the Museum and go on a guided tour at Glasnevin Cemetery for free.

Whichever tour the visitors opt for – the General History Tour or the Dead Interesting tour – they join for free. 

The Dublin Pass holders also get 10% off in the Tower cafe.

Besides Glasnevin Cemetery, this Dublin City Pass gets you free entry to 32 other attractions in the city.

What to see at Glasnevin Cemetery

There are lots of unique attractions to see in the sprawling Glasnevin Cemetery. 

Glasnevin Cemetery Museum

Glasnevin Cemetery Museum has received numerous awards.

It has three permanent exhibitions, which all visitors can explore – 

The City of the Dead exhibition narrates the history of the cemetery. 

As you explore this exhibition, you get to learn about the people buried in the cemetery, what they owned, and what was sacred and dear to them. 

Visitors also learn about the massive archive, dating back to the 1800s, that the Glasnevin Trust maintains.

Don’t miss out on the section about grave-robbing which was once quite prevalent in the city.

The ‘Religion Wall’ displays the different beliefs every religion has about the concept of ‘after life.’ 

The Milestone Gallery houses special exhibitions on key historical figures from Ireland, starting with Daniel O’Connell, who is also known as ‘The Liberator.’

Interactive Timeline

The 10-meter (33 feet) long Interactive Timeline is part of the Milestone Gallery and was launched in 2009.

The Timeline’s interface allows visitors to browse through a selection of 200 influential figures in Irish history. 

Touching one of the personalities gives you a short bio, after which you can go on to know more about them by reading the full biography.

The Prospect Gallery has many photos of the most famous funerals and historical events at Glasnevin Cemetery. 

You will also get to see funerary monuments and historic graves.

O’Connell tower is a tribute to Daniel O’Connell, the Irish political leader from the first half of the 19th century. 

Standing at 55 meters (180 feet), it is Ireland’s tallest round tower.

In 1971, a bomb detonated at the base of the Tower, after which it got closed down. After decades, the iconic landmark reopened to the public in April 2018.

Today, the Tower hosts an exhibition narrating the life of Daniel O’Connell and the history of the majestic Tower built in his honor.

Visitors can book a climb on this Tower, which takes approximately 30 minutes.  Jump to the tickets section

Once you climb the 198 steps and reach the top, you get to enjoy stunning views of the Glasnevin Cemetery, the city of Dublin, Wicklow, and the Irish Sea.

Important:  Kids younger than 8-year-olds aren’t allowed to go up the O’Connell Tower. An adult must accompany children aged 8 to 12, at all times. 

Michael Collins was an Irish revolutionary and a major force in the early-20th-century Irish struggle for independence.

He was assassinated in August 1922 and buried at this cemetery. 

Michael Collins’ is the most visited grave in Glasnevin.

The Cross of Sacrifice is a Commonwealth war memorial designed in 1918 by Sir Reginald Blomfield for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. 

As a practice, this memorial is present in Commonwealth war cemeteries containing 40 or more graves of soldiers. 

Cross of Sacrifice was unveiled in Glasnevin Cemetery in July 2014 and ever since has become an attraction. 

This pub was set up by John Kavanagh in 1833 and is built into the wall of Glasnevin Cemetery, in the picturesque Prospect Square.

Over the centuries, gravediggers have come to this pub for a few pints and some food after a hard night’s digging. 

Today the John Kavanagh pub, which is also referred to as the ‘Gravediggers Pub,’ is being run by a seventh-generation Kavanagh, and tourists step in to get a feel of the old. 

The National Botanic Gardens is a 19.5 hectares garden situated between Glasnevin Cemetery and the River Tolka, where it forms part of the river’s floodplain.

From the Glasnevin Cemetery, you can get to the Botanic Gardens for a stroll. 

The linking gate is along the wall at the far side of Glasnevin Cemetery, Prospect Square entrance.

The Tower Cafe at Glasnevin is also known as the gateway between Glasnevin Cemetery and the National Botanic Gardens.

It is open from 9.30 am to 5 pm everyday and offers breakfast, quick bites, fast food, etc. Download Menu

The restaurant is wheelchair accessible, and visitors choose to either dine-in or take out.

Even though the restaurant’s capacity is 70, it gets a bit crowded at lunchtime.

Tip: Some tourists believe that food is expensive at the Tower Cafe.

1. Since the Glasnevin Cemetery opened in 1832, more than one and a half million people have been interred (buried) there. Before the Glasnevin, Irish Catholics had no cemeteries in which to bury their dead.

2. Glasnevin Cemetery Museum was opened in 2010 and is the world’s first cemetery museum. 

3. Glasnevin Cemetery is home to one of the largest collections of Celtic crosses in the world. A Celtic crosses are unique in two ways – they have a ring of stone encircling the arms of the cross itself, and Christ gets displayed at the center of the stone circle.

4. Glasnevin Cemetery is officially known as Prospect Cemetery. This the Cemetery is surrounded on most sides by a Town named Prospect.

5. Maria Higgins was buried twice at Glasnevin Cemetery. The first time she was ‘buried’ as part of a scheme to get her inheritance, and her coffin only had bricks and sand. The second burial happened many years later when she actually passed away. 

6. Father Francis Browne , the person because of whom we know how Titanic looked like, is buried in the Glasnevin Cemetery. Just before it set sail, Father Francis took lots of photographs of the cruise ship, its crew and passengers. 

7. In 1911, one of the Glasnevin Cemetery guards spotted something colorful in the trees, and to scare it, shot in the general direction. As luck would have it, a beautiful bird fell to the ground with a thud. The same day a man called the Cemetery enquiring if anyone had seen his very valuable and rare macaw. When he came to know what happened, he sued the Cemetery for 100 pounds.

8. 1890 was the year of the Irish at Wimbledon (even though back then, Ireland was part of Great Britain). That year, the Irish tennis stars won the Ladies Singles, Men’s Singles, and the Men’s Doubles titles. Frank Stoker was the Men’s Doubles title winner along with Joshua Pim, and he would go on to win once again in 1893. This man, who besides playing tennis, was also an Irish international rugby player, and a dentist is buried in the Glasnevin Cemetery. 

9. In 1879 Glasnevin Cemetery’s entrance was moved from Prospect Square to Finglas Road. Before they moved the access, they had to buy all the land opposite the cemetery because they didn’t want any businessman to open a pub. The cemetery was already facing issues with mourners being late for the funerals and landing up drunk. 

10. Fr Michael Morrison, the man who witnessed the liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, is buried at this cemetery. During his stay at the camp, he witnessed unbelievable horrors, including cannibalism and mass graves. He missed meeting Anne Frank at the camp by a few weeks.

11. During the Irish War of Independence, the IRA used a coffin inside a Glasnevin Cemetery vault to store their weapons. They had to move former occupant Ann Hodgens to make room for the guns.

12. In 1932, Sydney Harbour Bridge was ready for inauguration, and a local Australian politician was selected to do the honors. But Irishman  Francis de Groot felt only a member of the British royal family must open the bridge for the public. An upset and angry de Groot put on his Army uniform, borrowed a horse, and blended in with the cavalry guard of honor. At the right opportunity, he drew his sword, charged towards the red ribbon, and cut it, all the while shouting, “I declare this bridge open in the name of the decent and respectable people of New South Wales!” 

De Groot was laid to rest at this Dublin Cemetery.  

Sources # Dctrust.ie # Visitdublin.com # Wikipedia.org # Tripadvisor.com The travel specialists at TheBetterVacation.com use only high-quality sources while researching & writing their articles. We make every attempt to keep our content current, reliable and trustworthy .

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This article was researched & written by

Vaibhav Raj

Vaibhav Raj is a hyper-dramatic cinema romantic, and it is his life's mission to touch all the memorable landscapes that his favorite movies breathe in, be it a meeting in Montauk from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, a walk along Before Sunrise's Vienna, a hideout in In Bruges' Bruges, or frolicking across the lush Swiss landscapes of Yash Chopra. Favourite Cities: Barcelona, Kyoto, and Bruges.

Edited by Rekha Rajan & fact checked by Jamshed V Rajan

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Things to Do in Dublin: Glasnevin Cemetery Tour

A question we get asked quite frequently: What things are there to do in Dublin? If you are in Dublin and have some time, we highly recommend checking out the Glasnevin Cemetery Tour.

Glasnevin Cemetery

Glasnevin Cemetery, located north of Dublin City centre, is the final resting place of over 1.5 million Dubliners. Given that the current population of Dublin is just over 1 million, this means that there are more people interred there than actually live in Dublin today. Many significant historical Irish people are buried here but it also contains the graves of rich and poor and all shades in between. The cemetery has borne witness to the life and times that have shaped Ireland since the mid-1800s. This makes it a must for history buffs and those wishing to trace some family history.

Bullys Acre

Under British rule in the early 19 th century, the state religion in Ireland was Anglican. However, the population of Ireland was overwhelmingly Roman Catholic. The Penal Laws had been introduced by the authorities to restrict Catholic practise and worship. As a result, Catholics in Dublin could either be buried in Protestant graveyards where there was a ban on Catholic prayers or they could be buried in an area to the west of the city known as Bullys Acre, in Kilmainham. This was common ground and had been used as a burial place for many centuries. The practice of body snatching had become a serious problem there and a serious cholera outbreak in 1832 had led to serious congestion.

Daniel O'Connell

The Catholic Association, led by Daniel OConnell , campaigned for the rights of Catholics and in 1831 they bought lands in Glasnevin to construct a proper cemetery, not just for Catholics, but for all religions and none. The cemetery opened in 1832 and the first burial to take place was 11-year-old Michael Carey from Dulin city. A feature of the cemetery is the high perimeter wall with integrated lookout towers to guard against body snatching. Daniel OConnell died in 1847 and is interred in the cemetery. A Round Tower marks the spot where his tomb is located. OConnell Street in Dublin is also named in his honour.

The Irish War of Independence

In August 1915 an event occurred in Glasnevin cemetery that would influence the course of Irish history. At the burial the Fenian Jeremiah ODonovan Rossa. A then little known school teacher & poet, Padraig Pearse , gave a rousing speech that was in fact a coded call to arms.

but the fools, the fools, the fools! they have left us our Fenian dead, and while Ireland holds these graves, Ireland unfree shall never be at peace."

Less than a year later an insurgency in an attempt to overthrow British rule would follow. This became known as the Easter 1916 Rising. It was a failure and Padraig Pearse, along with his fellow leaders of the Rising, was executed by firing squad. Initially, the Rising had little public support but with the martyrdom of the rebels, public opinion would change in favour of overthrowing British rule, and a war for independence ensued. The end result was Irish Independence in 1922.

Michael Collins

Revolutionary, politician, charmer, orator and diplomat, Michael Collins was a much-loved figure during the fight for independence. In fact, to this day his grave is adorned with flowers and cards.

He played a pivotal part in the Irish War of Independence. Collins pioneered a tactic that became known as guerrilla warfare. The War of Independence lasted from 1918 to 1921 when the British finally agreed to a truce. The head of the Irish Provisional Government, Eamon De Valera, sent a delegation, led by Collins, to London to agree a treaty. While in London he was given the option by the British to sign a treaty agreeing to just 26 counties (instead of the full 32) or face a bloody war. Collins signed the treaty. This would partition the island of Ireland into Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State. Northern Ireland would remain as part of the United Kingdom while the Irish Free State would no longer be part of the United Kingdom. The partition of the island caused a split in the Irish Provisional government and this would result in a civil war within the Irish Free State. After signing the treaty Collins is reported to have said:

"I may have signed my actual death warrant".

This may have been a dark omen. In August 1922 Michael Collins was ambushed in Beal na Blath, Co. Cork and shot dead. Some 500,000 people attended his funeral in Dublin, a fifth of the population of Ireland at the time.

Tracing Your Family History

Glasnevin cemetery possesses over 1.5 million Irish genealogy records from 1832 to present. If you intend tracing your Irish family history you can explore it here. Besides having an archive online, Glasnevin Cemetery offers assistance when you visit. If you end up taking a tour with them, they'll also give you 5 worth of genealogy credits that you can redeem there. Who knows, you may discover some interesting stories from your family's past!

Getting There

The number 40 bus frequently goes from OConnell Street in the city centre out towards Glasnevin Cemetery. For times and google map location of bus stops check out www.getthere.ie

Further Reading

For more information on Glasnevin Cemetery check out the following links:

http://www.mercierpress.ie/irish-books/dead_interesting_stories_from_the_graveyards_of_dublin/

https://dbsirishstudies.wordpress.com/2012/10/17/city-of-the-dead-glasnevin-cemetery/

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Experience Glasnevin – Ireland’s National Cemetery and Visitor Centre

Glasnevin Cemetery, Glasnevin Cemetery, Finglas Road, Glasnevin, Dublin

Glasnevin is also the final resting place of almost 1.5 million people you will not have heard of; but behind every name, and beneath every headstone, there is the story of a life lived, of a unique individual’s experiences, joys and sorrows.

The cemetery itself was founded as part of the garden cemetery movement in 1832 and its design by architect Patrick Byrne reflects this. This tour will focus on this design as well as the layout of the cemetery and some of the monuments and those that sculpted them.

The mortuary chapel and its architect, J.J. McCarthy, Ireland’s pre-eminent architect of Catholic churches will also feature.

Also designed by renowned Dublin architect Patrick Byrne, the O’Connell tower measures an impressive 55 metres and is still one of the highest structures in Dublin. The iconic tower, its architecture and construction will also be covered on this unique insight into one of Dublin’s most visited heritage sites.

The Tour will cover the cemetery itself and include the design and layout of the cemetery and its original purpose as part of the Victorian Garden Cemetery movement. Information on some of the sculptors, the design of the iconic O’Connell Tower and its construction will be given. The Tours will also encompass the architecture and design of the chapel and its surroundings.

This tour is pre-book only.

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Irish History Tour

Our Irish History Tour is always extremely popular with visitors and will give you a unique perspective on how Glasnevin Cemetery bore witness to key events such as the 1916 Rising, The War of Independence and the Civil War. You will also hear stories of the lives of some of the almost 1.5 million less well-known people who have their final resting place in Glasnevin.

Weave through the stunning grounds of Ireland’s National Cemetery while our expert Tour Guides share the fascinating stories of iconic figures from Irish history who have been laid to rest here.

Highlights of the Irish History Tour include:

● The resting places of: Charles Stewart Parnell, Eamon de Valera, Countess Markievicz, Maud Gonne, Michael Collins and many others ● A stop at the ornate crypt of Daniel O’Connell, legendary statesman and founder of Glasnevin Cemetery ● Insight into the intricate monuments and Celtic crosses that populate the grounds ● Stories of some of the less famous, but hugely interesting individuals who have been laid to rest in Glasnevin

Your ticket includes entry into the Extra-ordinary Lives  indoor exhibition. We recommend that you arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your tour starting, to allow you to check in and browse the exhibition.

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Booking Recommended

Public Tours €14 (Concession €12)

Family Ticket €40 (2 Adults + up to 4 Children)

Tours Led by Expert Guides

The key elements of our tours at Glasnevin Cemetery are the individuals laid to rest here – iconic figures from history and the less well-known – and our Tour Guides, who are extremely skilled and always highly-commended by audiences.

All of our tours begin and end in our state-of-the art Visitor Centre. Here, you can view displays, videos and interactive media in both the City of the Dead and the Extra-ordinary Lives exhibition. This will give you an intriguing introduction to your visit and set the scene for the outdoor tour which follows. Your Tour Guide will meet you in the Prospect Gallery and commence the outdoor tour from there.

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Hochul Visits an Ancestral Home, 3,000 Miles From the Governor’s Mansion

After meeting the pope and the mayors of Rome, London and Dublin, Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York paused to reconnect with her past.

By Claire Fahy

Reporting from County Kerry, Ireland

For much of her whirlwind tour in Europe, Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York focused on looking forward for solutions to worldwide crises like global warming and a lack of affordable housing.

But as she visited County Kerry, Ireland, Ms. Hochul paused to linger in the past.

Here in Kilshannig, a small fishing village on a remote stretch of sandy beach, the governor is still known as Kathleen Courtney, the granddaughter of John Courtney and Mary Browne, who emigrated separately to the United States as teenagers over a century ago in search of greater opportunity.

They would later meet in Chicago, where they married before moving to Buffalo, the governor’s hometown, to work at the steel mill there. Every so often, as money and time allowed, the family would make the trip back to the Maharees, a peninsula that juts off Ireland’s west coast and contains three small towns: Fahamore, Kilshannig and Candeehy.

On Sunday, around 100 local residents, county council members and relatives gathered in Spillane’s Bar in Fahamore for a civic reception to honor Ms. Hochul.

Almost everyone who crowded into the low-ceilinged pub looking for a selfie or a handshake with their distinguished American guest claimed to share ancestry with the governor through her grandparents.

“My mother and her grandmother were first cousins,” said Mary Harrington-McKenna, 75, who lives in the town. “It’s very exciting to have our cousin, the governor of New York, visit where her grandparents came from.”

As Ms. Hochul smiled for photos, hugged and shook hands with the people and descendants of the people who used to call her grandparents neighbors, she tried to keep everyone’s stories straight, she said.

“It meant something to me,” Ms. Hochul said. “It’s humbling for me to know that I could be in a position like this, despite two generations ago where we started from.”

Ms. Hochul stayed with her (confirmed) second cousin, Vincent Browne, 55, a fisherman, and his wife, Suzie, in the house where her grandmother grew up: a two-story cottage surrounded by a stone wall atop a small hill overlooking Candeehy Bay. It was the first time in two years as governor that she spent the night without her security detail.

The last time Ms. Hochul was in County Kerry was 25 years ago, she said, but she picked up with her cousins as if no time had passed, looking through photographs of herself as a young girl in Ireland, faded images of her grandmother as a child and her grandparents’ wedding photos.

“I think that’s what’s so beautiful about the Irish people, that they’re not thinking about the present or the future as much as they understand that they have to be the keepers of the past,” she said.

Séamus Cosaí Fitzgerald, 62, a member of the Kerry County Council, said that because the area is so small, most families are interrelated if you trace back their lineages far enough. Still, having an American politician in town is exceedingly rare, he said, which added extra motivation for locals to scrutinize their genealogy.

“We don’t come across a governor of New York too often — or any other state — that their parents or their grandparents or their great-grandparents originated from here,” Mr. Cosaí Fitzgerald said. “I think there will be a lot of new family trees created here after this visit today.”

Just down the road from the family cottage, on a bluff looking out to sea, is the graveyard where many of Ms. Hochul’s relatives, including her great-grandmother, are buried. The old stone grave markers hold many of the surnames of Ms. Hochul’s extended family — Spillanes, Brownes, Courtneys — as well as the far-flung locations where some of them died, like Chicago and Brooklyn.

The graves tell the story of a town decimated by the potato famine in the mid-19th century that was forced to send many of its own overseas in search of jobs more lucrative than the fishing and farming that Kilshannig relied on.

“They were driven to leaving here because there was no future here,” said Jim Finucane, the mayor of County Kerry, adding that there had always been opportunity in the United States for people who worked hard. “That’s why America is a nation of immigrants. That magic, that opportunity, it still resonates with people. And I think sometimes Americans have to be reminded of that.”

Ms. Hochul said that maintaining that opportunity was one of the primary focuses of her trip. In the past week, the governor has met with the mayors of Rome, London and Dublin. She said the one topic each leader brought up was the dearth of affordable housing in major cities, which will be a subject of discussion at the Global Economic Summit, a conference she is set to attend in Kerry on Monday.

“That’s what’s holding New York back. People want to live in New York City, live in New York State,” she said. “But if you can’t afford the housing or there’s just nothing, there’s no supply, then we’re not going to have the opportunity to attract all the talent that wants to come.”

But before another day of forward-looking conversations, Ms. Hochul took some time to immerse herself in the distant past. On Saturday, her second cousins brought her on a dinghy out to the Magharee Islands, known locally as “the Seven Hogs,” just off the coast of Kilshannig.

She walked through the stone ruins of a sixth-century monastery where Catholics surreptitiously held Mass while under occupation by the British. For the governor, an ardent Catholic who recently met the pope, the much more modest trip to a remote island’s monastery proved equally powerful.

“The connections of seeing that little monastery, the ruins, and how that religion is still passed on forward today,” she said, “just makes you feel connected back some time to people that you’ll never meet, but are part of my story.”

Claire Fahy reports on New York City and the surrounding area for The Times. She can be reached at [email protected]. More about Claire Fahy

Politics in the New York Region

Equal Rights Amendment: As Election Day approaches, the proposed amendment to the State Constitution has become a divisive culture-war issue  that encompasses abortion, discrimination and transgender athletes.

Office of Cannabis Management: The head of New York State’s cannabis agency will step down at the end of his three-year term in September as part of an overhaul of the embattled agency , Gov. Kathy Hochul said.

A Thorny Mayoral Race: Zellnor Myrie, an Afro-Latino state senator from Brooklyn known for backing progressive causes, announced that he is moving to challenge  Mayor Eric Adams in next year’s Democratic primary in New York City.

Special House Election: Timothy Kennedy, a Democratic New York State senator, easily won a special House election  to replace a retiring congressman in western New York, narrowing the Republican majority in Washington.

A $237 Billion Budget: Hochul and New York City emerged as two of the winners from a budget process that blew past the April 1 deadline. Here’s a look at how things went .