Experience Glasnevin: Ireland’s National Cemetery

Experience Glasnevin: Ireland’s National Cemetery is located just 2.5km from Dublin City centre. Glasnevin is a Victorian garden cemetery and covers 124 acres with plenty to appreciate. You will find the largest collection of Celtic crosses in the world here. The interactive visitor centre has award winning exhibits including “The City of the Dead” and numerous photographs from the cemetery’s history. You can also search for your family surname in the computer database to possibly learn more about your ancestors. The visitor centre has a beautifully stocked gift shop and the Tower Café is located next door.One of the best ways to explore the cemetery is on a guided walking tour. Each tour guide is very knowledgeable and passionate about the cemetery, revealing stories of Ireland’s history through daily tours. Your guide leads each tour with a careful balance of sensitivity and fun, while also tailoring the tour to your interests.General History Tour: This tour gives an overview of the history of Glasnevin Cemetery and visits the graves of Ireland’s heroes, including Daniel O’Connell, Michael Collins, Roger Casement, Charles Stewart Parnell and Countess Markievicz. Hear stories of rogues and rebels, the famous and the infamous, gravediggers and grave robbers.Dead Interesting Tour: Hear the stories of the lesser known, but equally interesting personalities buried at Glasnevin. Dead Interesting tells some of Glasnevin’s secrets such as the story of Maria Higgins, a lady who died once but was buried twice and Francis de Groot, who opened the Sydney Harbour Bridge by accident. You will learn about the sculpture, symbolism, architecture, art, sporting heroes, natural life and much more. Glasnevin Cemetery is considered an outdoor art gallery.The O’Connell Tower: Climb 198 steps to see spectacular views over the sprawling grounds of the cemetery, Dublin City, Wicklow and the Irish Sea. It is Ireland’s tallest round tower and stands at almost 55m. Built in 1854, it is the tombstone of the great liberator, Daniel O’Connell, who lies in an ornately decorated crypt at the base of the tower. A gate located within the cemetery grounds will lead you through to the magnificent National Botanic Gardens.