Glasnevin Cemetery: Irish History Tour

What to Expect

Glasnevin Cemetery is Ireland’s national cemetery, the resting place of more than a million people, among them Daniel O’Connell, Michael Collins, Eamon de Valera, Countess Markievicz and Charles Stewart Parnell. The Irish History Tour is Dublin Cemeteries Trust’s signature guided walk, covering the last two hundred years of Irish history through the lives of the people buried here, from the Famine era through the 1916 Rising, the War of Independence and the Civil War to the politicians who shaped the modern state.

Guided tours last approximately 90 minutes and are led by expert guides who know the stories behind the headstones. Every tour ticket includes admission to the Extra-ordinary Lives exhibition in the Visitor Centre, and visitors can add an optional O’Connell Tower climb, which takes up to 30 minutes and offers sweeping views over Dublin from the top of Ireland’s tallest round tower.

Two ticket tiers are available: tour plus exhibition, or tour plus exhibition plus tower climb, each priced across adult, child, senior/student and family rates. Persons with a disability are entitled to one free companion ticket by prior arrangement with the Visitor Centre. Booking is done online at dctrust.ie by selecting a date and time from the calendar; advance booking is recommended, particularly at weekends.

Good to Know

• Guided tours last around 90 minutes; the optional tower climb adds up to 30 minutes
• Ticket includes entry to the Extra-ordinary Lives exhibition
• Book online at dctrust.ie by choosing a date and time slot
• Wheelchair accessible; notify guides in advance of accessibility needs
• Companion tickets available for visitors with a disability via museum@dctrust.ie

Getting There

Glasnevin Cemetery is served by Dublin Bus routes 40 and 40D from O’Connell Street, and routes 4 and 9 from the south city centre. There is a car park at the cemetery entrance, and a suggested 2.5km walking trail links the city centre to Glasnevin village and the cemetery gates.