Glasnevin Museum

About Glasnevin Museum

Glasnevin Museum, operated by Glasnevin Trust, opened in April 2010.  The self-funded €11 million museum showcases the social, historical, political and artistic development of modern Ireland through the lives of the 1.5 million people buried in Glasnevin Cemetery – Ireland’s national necropolis.  Glasnevin Cemetery was originally opened by the great ‘Liberator’, Daniel O’Connell, in 1832 for the purpose of burying ‘people of all religions and none’ with dignity.

The three storey museum features exhibits, Glasnevin Trust Shop and The Tower Cafe:

Exhibitions

• The City of the Dead – an immersive exhibition in the basement of the museum.  It covers the burial practices and religious beliefs, as well as the meticulous record-keeping, of the 1.5 million people buried in Glasnevin.
• The Milestone Gallery houses a succession of special exhibitions on key historical figures, starting with Glasnevin’s founder Daniel O’Connell.  It also houses ‘the Timeline’ – a 10 metre long digitally interactive table containing details of the lives and relationships of hundreds of the most famous people buried here.
• The glazed Prospect Gallery offers periodic historical exhibitions over a panoramic view of the cemetery, along with information on its marvellous array of funerary monuments and historic graves.

Tower Cafe

• An 70 seat restaurant: the Tower Café operated by With Taste opens daily at 10am for breakfast, morning coffee, lunch and afternoon tea.

Glasnevin Trust Shop

• Glasnevin Trust Shop sells, books, gift items, historical memorabilia and a selection of children’s educational toys. Glasnevin Trust Shop also exclusively sells a range of Irish Crafts from Designyard.

Glasnevin Museum History

Open April 2010, Glasnevin Museum is a dynamic visitor attraction located on Dublin’s northside. The Museum is of interest not only to anyone interested in Irish Heritage & Genealogy, but also those interested in art, architecture and a day well spent. The Museum exhibits, designed by Martello Media are modern and interactive, showing the social, historical, political and artistic development of modern Ireland through the lives of the generations buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.

Glasnevin Cemetery is the largest cemetery in Ireland. First opened in 1832 to establish a place where people of all religions could bury their dead with dignity; the cemetery has grown to become a national monument and vital part of the Irish Heritage story.

In the past Glasnevin Cemetery had always offered a Cemetery Tour at 2.30pm, weather permitting given by Historian Shane MacThomais, Now however now there are up to 4 tours daily (Summer only) open to the general public, Shane has shared his knowledge with five new guides who have built up quite a fan base in a very short space of time. Bridget, Paddy, Niall, Niamh and Jade all know the cemetery secrets, be sure to ask lots of questions.

Glasnevin Trust is a voluntary, not-for-profit body, registered charity number 5849. The Trust is the largest provider of funeral services in Ireland.  It operates five cemeteries located in Dardistown, Glasnevin, Goldenbridge, Newlands Cross and Palmerstown and two crematoria at Glasnevin and Newlands Cross.

Glasnevin Trust also operates Monument Works, Florist, Genealogy Services and Glasnevin Museum.

Connect to Glasnevin Trust on www.glasnevintrust.ie

Originally established by Daniel O’Connell in 1828 the Committee was subsequently re-established under the Dublin Cemeteries Committee Acts of 1846 and 1970.