Cemetery

THE CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART AND THE HISTORIC MILITARY CEMETERY AT ARBOUR HILL

February 24, 2024 by infomatique

SATURDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2024

The Church of the Sacred Heart at Arbour Hill, located in Dublin 7, holds historical and symbolic significance. Here are the key details:

The church was given the title “Church of the Defence Forces” in 1997 when Collins Barracks (located across the road) closed. Historically, this location is significant because it houses the remains of leaders who died during the Easter Rising of 1916, including Pearse and Connolly.

The church forms part of a tripartite façade known as Arbour Hill Prison.
It is linked to the prison’s main entrance by screen walls extending to the Governor’s House.
Designed by Jacob Owen in 1835 and later rebuilt by Joshua Webb in 1845, the complex was completed in 1848.
The interior features an elaborate cruciform design and a stained glass window by the Harry Clarke Studios behind the altar.
An unusual entrance porch leads to twin galleries for visitors in the nave and transept.
The church also boasts a Celtic round tower rising from a rectangular base.

The military cemetery at Arbour Hill is the last resting place of 14 of the executed leaders of the 1916 Rising. It is therefore a place of pilgrimage for students and aficionados of this tempestuous moment in Irish history.

The clear focus of Arbour Hill is the legend of the rising. Among those buried here are Patrick Pearse, James Connolly and Major John MacBride. Their bodies were put into an unmarked pit and covered with quicklime, but their grave has now been saved from obscurity with an impressive memorial inscribed in English and Irish.

Arbour Hill Cemetery is at the rear of the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, where you can currently find a large display of 1916-related material.

I ASKED GOOGLE’S BARD AI TO GENERATE AN ACCOUNT OF GOLDENBRIDGE CEMETERY

December 15, 2023 by infomatique

IT IS CLOSE TO BEING TOTALLY INACCURATE

Watch out for the squirrels … they are grey not red.

I asked Google’s Bard AI to generate an account of Goldenbridge Cemetery and here it is with many false claims … see if you can spot them

Nestled amidst the bustling city of Dublin, Ireland, lies Goldenbridge Cemetery, a tranquil oasis of remembrance and history. Its cobblestone paths wind through a verdant expanse, lined with ornate tombstones and weathered headstones that whisper tales of lives lived and stories untold.

The cemetery’s origins can be traced back to the early 19th century, when the Catholic Association, led by the charismatic Daniel O’Connell, sought to provide dignified burial space for all faiths and none. In 1828, they acquired three acres of land near the Grand Canal, a site that would become the first Catholic cemetery in Ireland since the Reformation.

Over the years, Goldenbridge has become a treasure trove of Dublin’s rich history. Its grounds have witnessed the passing of countless souls, from prominent figures who shaped the city’s destiny to ordinary citizens who played their part in the tapestry of life.

Among the cemetery’s notable residents is Thomas Francis Meagher, a revolutionary leader who played a key role in the Irish Rebellion of 1848. His imposing monument, adorned with symbols of freedom and justice, stands as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made for Ireland’s independence.

Another prominent figure interred in Goldenbridge is Michael Cusack, the founder of the Gaelic Athletic Association. Cusack’s commitment to preserving and promoting Irish culture is deeply entwined with the history of the cemetery, as the GAA’s annual graveside commemorations have become a cherished tradition.

Amidst the grand monuments and historical significance, Goldenbridge also holds a quiet intimacy, a place where families gather to remember loved ones and find solace in shared memories. The gentle rustling of leaves, the soft chirping of birds, and the distant murmur of the canal create an atmosphere of tranquility, encouraging reflection and introspection.

As the sun casts its golden rays upon the cemetery’s verdant expanse, the spirits of those who rest beneath its soil seem to stir. Their stories, whispered through the rustling leaves and carried on the gentle breeze, weave a tapestry of lives that continue to touch and inspire the living.

Goldenbridge Cemetery is more than just a burial ground; it is a living testament to the enduring spirit of Dublin, a place where history, tradition, and personal connections intertwine to create a poignant symphony of remembrance. Its hallowed grounds serve as a reminder that even in the face of death, life finds a way to flourish, echoing through the ages and forever etched in the tapestry of the city’s soul.

[NOTE] No cobblestones in the cemetery []
[NOTE] Thomas Francis Meagher is not buried in Ireland. Despite his prominent role in the Irish Rebellion of 1848, his body was never recovered after his drowning in the Sacramento River in 1867. []
[NOTE] Michael Cusack is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin, Ireland. []

MOUNT JEROME CEMETERY SESSION ONE

December 10, 2023 by infomatique

8 DECEMBER 2023

Initially I decided not to include a sound track but that idea did really work but I must admit that it is close to impossible to find appropriate background music for a visit to a graveyard. Anyway, I selected the music because it is what my Grand Aunt liked.

Then Mount Jerome for the protestants. Funerals all over the world everywhere every minute. Shovelling them under by the cartload doublequick. Thousands every hour. Too many in the world. Ulysses, Chapter 6, Hades episode, James Joyce.

I was in the Harold’s Cross area today so I took the opportunity to visit Mount Jerome Cemetery where two of my Grandparents and a Grand Aunt are buried. I had not realised that it was the 8th of December.

Historically, for Irish Catholics, the festive period began on 8 December, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, with many putting up their decorations and Christmas trees on that day, and runs through until 6 January, or Little Christmas. Today, in modern Ireland it is the big Christmas shopping day.

Mount Jerome Cemetery & Crematorium is situated in Harold’s Cross on the south side of Dublin, Ireland. Since its foundation in 1836, it has witnessed over 300,000 burials. Originally an exclusively Protestant cemetery, Roman Catholics have also been buried there since the 1920s.

The name of the cemetery comes from an estate established there by the Reverend Stephen Jerome, who in 1639 was vicar of St. Kevin’s Parish. At that time, Harold’s Cross was part of St. Kevin’s Parish. In the latter half of the 17th century, the land passed into the ownership of the Earl of Meath, who in turn leased plots to prominent Dublin families. A house, Mount Jerome House, was constructed in one of these plots, and leased to John Keogh. In 1834, after an aborted attempt to set up a cemetery in the Phoenix Park, the General Cemetery Company of Dublin bought the Mount Jerome property, “for establishing a general cemetery in the neighbourhood of the city of Dublin”.

The Funerary Chapel in the cemetery was the first Puginian Gothic church in Dublin. It was designed by William Atkins.

The first official burial happened on the 19th of September 1836. The buried deceased were the infant twins of Matthew Pollock.

The cemetery initially started with a landmass of 26 acres and grew to a size of 48 acres in 1874.

In 1984, burial numbers were falling, thus the Cemetery was losing revenue and began to deteriorate. A crematorium was needed to regain revenue and deal with plant overgrowth on the estate. In 2000, Mount Jerome Cemetery established its own crematorium on the site.

MOUNT JEROME CEMETERY

October 13, 2023 by infomatique

13 OCTOBER 2023

Today I had to visit the Harold’s Cross area of Dublin so I took the opportunity to visit Mount Jerome Cemetery where two of my Grandparents are buried even though they were Catholics and were involved in the 1916 Easter Rising.

The cemetery is also known for its beautiful Victorian architecture, including the Victorian Chapel, which is still used for funeral services today.

TODAY I MANAGED TO VISIT KILBARRACK CEMETERY

September 21, 2023 by infomatique

AFTER A NUMBER OF FAILED ATTEMPTS OVER A PERIOD OF TEN YEARS

I tried to visit the cemetery when Covid restrictions were in operation but I discovered that the gates were locked which was somewhat annoying as I had walked to get there. Last week I was on my way by train with the intention of walking from Bayside Station but I received a message informing me that my mother [103 year old] had had fall so I had to abandon my visit.

This cemetery is 6 miles from Fairview Park on the coast road to Howth. It is situated on the grounds of an old church and is still active. This cemetery is now under the care of the Fingal County Council

The church, believed by many to have been here since the 6th century, was built for the assistance of shipwrecked sailors and is sometimes known as ‘the Mariner’s Church’.

The old and new grounds adjoin, and the old ground contains the ruins of a Church. There are 3 Commonwealth burials of the 1914-1918 war and 1 of the 1939-1945 war here. Visitors to Kilbarrack Cemetery are advised that the main gates are sometimes locked and that the gate into the Old Church ruin where the grave of J D Butterly is located are permanently locked. Keys are available from Fingal County Council Tel: 00 353 1 890 5950/5943.

1623599 Sergeant [Flight Engineer]
John Desmond Butterly
The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
12 Squadron.

aged 33.

Son of Joseph Butterly and Mary Teresa Butterly, formerly Quinn, of Waterside, Howth, Co. Dublin.
His father was a Grocer and a Publican.
His father died on 4 August 1936, aged 71

In 1943, 12 Squadron was based at Wickenby, Langworth, Lincolnshire.
It flew Vickers Wellington bombers until the Autumn of 1942, and Avro Lancaster bombers from late 1942 until the end of the war.

His death was not registered in Ireland or Britain.
Cemetery records note the following.
John Desmond Butterly, aged 33, single, an Engineer with The Royal Air Force, died on 7 July 1943, at Lindholm, Lincoln. He was buried on 21 July 1943. Joseph Butterly had charge of the arrangements of the burial.

Inscription
the crest of the Royal Air Force

1623599 Sergeant
J. D. BUTTERLY
Flight Engineer
Royal Air Force
7th July 1943 age 33

R. I. P.
lamb of god who takest away
the sins of the world
grant us peace