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Image by Neil McDermott
Surrounded by suburban housing estates, the military cemetery in Grangegorman might seem a little out of place. But there is a real haven-like quality to this place with its towering trees and well-maintained graves and which opened in 1876.
The military graves here contain the remains of soldiers who mostly fought in the British Army in both world wars. On the simple, uniform headstones (which themselves seem to be a feature of Commonwealth War Graves around the world) it’s always interesting to find out about the different regiments and battles that the soldiers served in. There are also soldiers from Australia and New Zealand buried here and every year on Anzac Day, a dawn memorial service is held in the Cemetery – here’s a link to an audio slideshow of the 2009 service.
Another interesting feature is the screen wall memorial that commemorates those soldiers who are buried elsewhere in Ireland but whose graves can no longer be looked after.
The No. 37 bus stops on Blackhorse Avenue near the cemetery (get off at the stop past McKee Army Barracks).
Grangegorman | Art & culture | Free
Blackhorse Avenue | +35318213021
10:00 – 16:00 daily
Edwin, I’m glad you enjoyed your visit to Grangegorman
I visited the cemetery to find the grave of my grandfather Archibald Southam Colour Sargeant 1st Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers. He was a boy soldier aged 12 at Bradford Moor Barracks in the 1881 Census and was assigned to the RDF on reaching adult soldier age. He served in India for some years in the 1890′s but I have yet to obtain his full service record. I believe at the time of his early death in 1920 aged 52 he had retired from the army. I was greatly impressed by the impeccable condition of the cemetery, a tribute to those who maintain the grounds which honour all those who made the final sacrifice and those who served and survived.
Dear Edwin Southam,
We are related! I have some military, as well as family information to share!
Audrey Haley (Stafford, Virginia, USA)
AHAudreyHaley@comcast.net