Experience Glasnevin

About the museum

Glasnevin Cemetery was opened in 1832 on the initiative of Daniel O'Connell. Until then Irish Catholics had no cemeteries of their own and could bury their dead only in old churchyards, often under restrictions, and O'Connell wanted a burial ground open to people of every religion. A first burial ground at Goldenbridge had been acquired a few years earlier, and Glasnevin grew into a large Victorian garden cemetery. Today it is the resting place of nearly 1.5 million people, including many victims of the Great Famine and of a later cholera epidemic.

Many leading figures of modern Irish history are buried here, among them Daniel O'Connell, Charles Stewart Parnell, Michael Collins, Éamon de Valera and Countess Markievicz. The cemetery is managed by the Dublin Cemeteries Trust, which also runs the visitor attraction. A museum with guided tours opened in 2010 and is now presented under the name Experience Glasnevin.

The visitor centre houses the Extra-ordinary Lives exhibition on the stories of more than 20 people buried in the cemetery, a shop and the Tower Café. Guided tours of the grounds cover the 1916 Rising, the War of Independence and the Civil War, as well as lesser-known lives and the stories of women in history. Visitors can also climb the O'Connell Tower, the tallest round tower in Ireland, and see O'Connell's restored crypt below it. Glasnevin is still a working cemetery, so visitors can only walk the grounds on an official tour or with an audio guide.

Key themes

• Guided Irish History Tour through the graves of Parnell, Collins, de Valera and others
• Extra-ordinary Lives exhibition in the visitor centre
• O'Connell Tower with 198 steps and views over Dublin
• Crypt of Daniel O'Connell
• Audio-visual guide in six languages

Permanent exhibition

• Extra-ordinary Lives – An exhibition on the first floor of the visitor centre about more than 20 people buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.

Founded

2010

Operated by

Dublin Cemeteries Trust

Admission & discounts

The cheapest ticket is the audio-visual guide with exhibition. All guided-tour tickets include the exhibition. Prices include VAT, and booking in advance is recommended.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The visitor centre is fully wheelchair accessible with two accessible entrances; the left door opens automatically. Guided tours can be adapted for people with mobility problems, but O'Connell's crypt is reached by steps and cannot be visited in a wheelchair (a virtual tour is available online). A wheelchair for use on the grounds can be reserved by email or phone. There is a drop-off point for people with mobility impairments beside the visitor centre. Assistance dogs are welcome in the gallery. A social and sensory story is available to download.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

A Children's Samhain Tour is offered each Halloween, and the museum provides school tours, learning packs and an online learning portal. A family ticket is available. A social and sensory story helps families prepare for the visit.

Getting there & parking

The site is on Finglas Road, about 3 km from the city centre, near the M50 and M1.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop

The Tower Café is next to the visitor centre, with outdoor seating. Toilets are outside the visitor centre. The gift shop is in the visitor centre.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit