- Huge number of interesting graves and memorials, many of them in the Victorian style.
- Last resting place for many historical figures from Daniel O'Connell to Eamon de Valera.
- Allows glimpses into changing funeral culture.
- Huge number of graves, size of cemetery and often unclear markings make navigation complicated.
- Can get very dusty or quite muddy in hot or wet weather.
- Established in 1832 on nine acres; today around 1,200,000 burial sites cover roughly 120 acres.
- Glasnevin was the first cemetery to allow funeral rites other than those of the Church of Ireland.
- Central point is the fake round tower commemorating O'Connell, nearly 170 feet high and standing on a vault.
- Glasnevin Cemetery is regarded as being Ireland's National Cemetery.
While visiting graveyards may be seen as a very morbid way to spend a vacation, Glasnevin is a special place - not only was the foundation of this non-Anglican cemetery an important part of the fight for Catholic emancipation, "The Liberator" himself is even buried here. A massive (though fake) round tower marks Daniel O'Connell's grave. Nearby a simple (but huge) boulder highlights Charles Stewart Parnell's last resting place. Originally this was a mass grave for paupers ... the poor are all but forgotten today.
Other important "residents" are:
- Sir Alfred Chester Beatty,
- Brendan Behan,
- Christy Brown,
- Roger Casement,
- Michael Collins,
- Eamon de Valera,
- James FitzHarris (a.k.a. Skin-the-Goat),
- John Stanislaus Joyce,
- Luke Kelly,
- Kitty Kiernan (sometimes visitors ask for "Julia Robert's grave),
- James Larkin,
- James Clarence Mangan,
- Frank Ryan,
- Dora Sigerson,
- Francis and Hanna Sheehy Skeffington and
- Zozimus.
But a general walk around Glasnevin will have you discover other treasures - like the modern headstones adorned with the emblems of English soccer clubs. Or the eerie rows of graves for stillborn children or those dying shortly after birth (with mounds of toys, windchimes ...). The oldest part of the graveyard, to the right of the entrance, has massive trees and large monuments. And also have a look at the high walls surrounding Glasnevin Cemetery. These are not for show, they were built to deter bodysnatchers. With armed guards being stationed in the pseudo-medieval watchtowers.
