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Glasnevin Trust · Glasnevin, Dublin 11

Glasnevin, the national cemetery

A guide leads you for two hours through Glasnevin, Ireland's national cemetery, from Daniel O'Connell's crypt to the grave of Michael Collins, with a climb of the O'Connell Tower. Pick it for the people behind the Croke Park story: Michael Cusack, who founded the GAA, is buried here too.

Glasnevin Cemetery Irish History Tour

About this experience

Glasnevin opened in 1832, and more than 1.5 million people are buried in its 124 acres. Discover Ireland's page lists O'Connell, Collins, Parnell, de Valera, Maud Gonne, Countess Markievicz and Roger Casement among them. This listing is a two-hour history tour that starts at the visitor centre and walks you through the 20th century, grave by grave.

The listing names Daniel O'Connell's crypt, the grave of Michael Collins, the visitor centre exhibitions and a climb of the O'Connell Tower: 198 steps up Ireland's tallest round tower, almost 55 metres, for views over the cemetery and the city. It's the best way to hear how the Rising, the War of Independence and the Civil War ended up side by side in one place.

For GAA fans there is a quieter reason to come. Michael Cusack, the man at the centre of the founding of the GAA in 1884, is buried in Glasnevin. The Cusack Stand at Croke Park is named after him. He is not a named stop on this tour, so ask your guide or look him up in the visitor centre's database.

  • Daniel O'Connell's crypt under the round tower
  • The grave of Michael Collins
  • The O'Connell Tower climb, 198 steps
  • Visitor centre exhibitions, including a surname search
  • The resting place of GAA founder Michael Cusack

How the day runs

  1. StartThe visitor centre

    Meet at the Glasnevin visitor centre on Finglas Road, with its exhibitions on the cemetery and the people in it.

  2. WalkO'Connell's crypt

    The ornate crypt at the foot of the round tower, where the man who founded the cemetery lies.

  3. WalkThe patriots' graves

    Michael Collins and the 20th century: the Rising, the War of Independence and the Civil War, told grave by grave.

  4. ClimbThe O'Connell Tower

    198 steps up the round tower for views over the cemetery, the city and on to the Wicklow hills.

  5. AfterCafe and Cusack

    The Tower Cafe is next door. Ask staff where to find Michael Cusack's grave if you want to see it.

What's included

Included

  • A two-hour guided history tour
  • Daniel O'Connell's crypt
  • The O'Connell Tower climb (198 steps)
  • The visitor centre exhibitions

Not included

  • Any visit to Croke Park
  • A named stop at Michael Cusack's grave
  • Food and drink
  • Transport to Glasnevin

Who it suits

Book it if

  • You want the history behind Croke Park's stand names
  • You are interested in 1916, Collins and the War of Independence
  • You like a view and do not mind 198 steps
  • You have a free morning before the Gaelic Games Experience nearby

Skip it if

  • You are short on time and want only the GAA story: the museum covers it
  • Cemeteries upset you or your children
  • You cannot manage stairs and wanted the tower view
  • You want a sporting experience, not a history one

Tips before you book

  • Glasnevin is about 2 km north of Croke Park. You can walk between them or take a short taxi.
  • Wear good shoes. Paths are uneven and the tower has 198 steps.
  • Use the surname search in the visitor centre if you have Irish roots.
  • Glasnevin's own site, glasnevinmuseum.ie, lists other tours, from the general history tour to seasonal ones.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Michael Cusack buried in Glasnevin?

Yes. The founder figure of the GAA is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery. He is not a named stop on this listing, so ask the guide or the visitor centre for directions.

How long is the Glasnevin tour?

The listing gives two hours, including the O'Connell Tower climb. Discover Ireland suggests 2 to 2.5 hours for a full visit.

How tall is the O'Connell Tower?

Almost 55 metres, the tallest round tower in Ireland. It was built in 1854 and the climb is 198 steps.

How far is Glasnevin from Croke Park?

About 2 km north. Both fit in one day: Croke Park in the morning, Glasnevin in the afternoon.

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Two hours in Ireland's national cemetery with a guide, from Daniel O'Connell's crypt to the 20th-century graves.

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Two hours in Ireland's national cemetery with a guide, from Daniel O'Connell's crypt to the 20th-century graves.

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