Glasnevin Cemetery

Originally known as Prospect Cemetery, Glasnevin is Ireland's largest burial place

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Glasnevin Cemetery opened in 1832 as a non-denominational graveyard — the first of its kind in Ireland — and is the last resting place of some 1.5million people. These include the nation's great and good, which is why, over the years, it has taken on the role of 'national' cemetery.

Since the first burial on 22 February 1832, Glasnevin's authorities have maintained a register of every single burial in the cemetery. For genealogy researchers, this is seriously rich treasure because the records pre-date the civil registration of deaths by three decades.

Conception and significance

The cemetery was the 'brain-child' of Daniel O'Connell, the Liberator, who lies buried beneath its most conspicuous architectural feature: a round tower, the tallest in Ireland.

O'Connell campaigned for the repeal of oppressive anti-Catholic laws, among them laws that denied Catholics the right to bury their dead according to their own religious rites. Back in the early 1800s, Roman Catholics were not even allowed their own burial grounds.

So Glasnevin, with its non-denominational status approved, was a significant step forward. It became the first graveyard where both Catholics and Protestants could be assured a dignified and appropriate burial service.

Genealogical value

Records for each individual burial at Glasnevin cemetery since 1832 have survived.

The registers detail full name and address of the deceased, cause, date and location of death, and name and address of the informant. The exact site of the grave is also given. While this can be accurately located, it does not necessarily indicate that there is a headstone. Some three-quarters of those buried at Glasnevin Cemetery are in unmarked graves.

The records for Glasnevin are available online, together with those of four Dublin cemeteries run by the Glasnevin Trust (which collectively date back to 1828), and can be searched for a fee at the Glasnevin Cemetery/Genealogy website.

Two types of genealogy search can be made. The first is for a single named individual, the other is for an extended search, for a named individual and all those buried in the same grave. Further enhancements to the online search facility were made in April 2013 when the website was fully revamped.

Design and artistic legacy

It was designed to be a garden cemetery, a style which had become fashionable since Pere Lachaise opened in Paris in 1804. As such, the initial land area of 9 acres (now 128 acres) was carefully laid out rather than being allowed to evolve naturally, as most graveyards around churches had done.

Rather than one great expanse of burial ground, paths were created of sufficient width to allow carriages and hearses through. These paths are dotted with ornamental trees including Lebanon Cedar, Red Sequoia, Oak, Beech and Yew, the latter being venerated by Celts and Christians alike for its longevity.

While its principal objective was to bury people, it was also designed to be a place to wander and to enjoy the architecture and sculpture. Because of its prestige, artists were happy to accept commissions and use the cemetery as an outdoor gallery for their skills.

Among the artists who created sculptures was James Pearse, the father of Padraig and Willie who were executed after the 1916 Uprising.

History and development

The first burial at Glasnevin Cemetery was of 11-year-old Michael of Frances Street, Dublin.

At this time, ten men were employed for maintenance and digging and a grave was dug using long handled shovels and spades with 18-inch blades.

The first grave on a plot was dug to a depth of twelve feet, which took up to eight hours, while second or later, shallower graves took at least three hours of hard toil.

The bodies of the rich were interred in fancy private tombs while those of the poor went into unmarked common ground.

Special areas were also created for victims of the many epidemics or outbreaks (of smallpox (1871-2), cholera (1865-66) or typhoid (1846-49)) that occasionally killed off large numbers of Dubliners in short periods of time.

The last such outbreak, the Influenza Epidemic of 1918, saw 240 funerals at Glasnevin Cemetery over an eight-day period. The norm would have been twelve or thirteen.

As the cemetery grew, distinct burial areas were also created for certain groups of people. There is a plot for the College of Surgeons, for example, and a number of areas are reserved for members of certain religious groups such as the Jesuits or Dominican Friars.

Probably the most famous area is the Republican plot where many of those who were killed or executed for their part in achieving Ireland's freedom are interred.

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