Heritage hot spots: History, nature, art, environment

Glasnevin Museum

What is it?An award-winning museum, overlooking Ireland's largest and most important cemetery, run by the not-for-profit Glasnevin Trust.

Why visit?Billed as "Ireland's necropolis", the cemetery is the burial place for 1.5 million people, including some famous names. These include the politicians Daniel O'Connell, Michael Collins, Charles Stewart Parnell, Éamon de Valera, Arthur Griffith and Countess Markievicz, the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins, the writer Brendan Behan, the singer Luke Kelly and the art collector Alfred Chester Beatty.

Established by Daniel O’Connell, Glasnevin Cemetery opened in 1832 as a final resting place for people of all religions. The museum’s guided tours offer a who’s who of Irish political life in the last century.

The City of the Dead, in the basement of the museum, explains the burial practices and religious beliefs of those interred here.

The Prospect Gallery, which has a panoramic view of the cemetery, has information on its monuments and historic graves.

The Milestone Gallery includes an interactive exhibition on O’Connell, plus a “digitally interactive table containing details of the lives and relationships of hundreds of the most famous people buried here”.

Why now?The museum is holding a family day next Saturday, with art activities from 11am to 1pm and a family-friendly tour at 1pm. Family tickets (which include a tour of the cemetery) cost €25 for two adults and two children.

How do I get there? Glasnevin Museum is on Finglas Road, Dublin 11. Buses 40a, 40d and 140 pass the museum.

It is open from 10am to 5pm during the week and from 11am to 5pm at weekends. Admission is €6 (€5 concessions); guided tours are €6 (€5 concessions); combined tickets for the museum and cemetery are also available. All combination tickets – including for families – cost €5 on Fridays this month and next; 01-8826550, glasnevintrust.ie.