Glasnevin Cemetery Museum

Glasnevin Museum was opened in April 2010 and is located within the walls of Glasnevin Cemetery. The cemetery was opened back in 1832 by the ‘Great Liberator’ Daniel O’Connell for the purpose of burying ‘people of all religions and none’ with dignity. A wealth of Ireland’s historical figures rest side by side in what has become Ireland’s Necropolis, now preserved by Glasnevin Trust. These include Michael Collins, Eamon De Valera, James Larkin, Maud Gonne MacBride, Countess Markievicz, Charles Stewart Parnell, Michael Cusack, Luke Kelly and Brendan Behan (to name a few).

Glasnevin Museum is operated by Glasnevin Trust, a not-for-profit organisation, (CHY 5849) whose aim is to continue preserving the cemetery’s monuments and historic graves. Open to the public year round this interactive museum offers a fascinating view of Ireland’s Necropolis and the many renowned historical figures from the worlds of politics, arts and sports that rest within. Glasnevin Museum’s guided Cemetery Tours provide an inspiring and moving account of some of the estimated 1.5 million people buried within the walls. The tour includes a visit to Daniel O’Connell’s crypt beneath the iconic O’Connell tower.

Exhibitions at Glasnevin Museum include ‘City of the Dead’ which is a history of the cemetery, Glasnevin Trust and even a reconstructed exhibition of how a grave robber conducted his grim business.

The Milestone Gallery is home to the Milestone Timeline, a never before attempted piece of exhibition design technology. This touch screen table contains 200 life stories spanning almost 200 years and also illustrates the links between the different people who tell the story of modern Ireland. The exhibition designer Mark Leslie, from Martello Media has stated “they are all six handshakes away from O’Connell”