Glasnevin: Gardens and History

If you are looking for a hotel in Glasnevin, you can choose your destination based on two different interests: the plant collections at the National Botanic Gardens and the historical offerings at Glasnevin Cemetery. The gardens focus on plant diversity and a notable architectural feature. At the cemetery, you can explore history on a guided tour, through exhibitions, or independently with an audio guide and map. Consider which of these themes you want to shape your stay.

Plant Diversity and Architecture at the National Botanic Gardens

The National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin are home to more than 16,000 plant species and cultivars from habitats around the world. They also contain more than 300 endangered plant species, six of which are already extinct in the wild. These figures highlight different aspects of the collection: the first covers species and cultivars from many habitats, while the second refers to endangered species within the gardens. This gives you a sense of their botanical diversity both through the breadth of the collection and the status of individual plants.

The Great Palm House offers a different focus from the plant collections: it received an award for outstanding architectural conservation. The gardens thus combine a botanical collection with a distinctive architectural feature. The National Botanic Gardens are open daily except Christmas Day and can be visited free of charge.

Tours and Exhibitions at Glasnevin Cemetery

The Irish History Tour covers the 1916 Easter Rising, the War of Independence, and the Civil War. It brings together these three historical topics in a single tour. Tour availability and schedules may change; check dates and availability before your visit if you want to plan for this particular tour.

Another option is to explore selected notable graves independently. With an audio guide and map, visitors can set their own pace. This offers two different formats: a guided tour covering specific historical events, and an individual exploration of selected graves. Which format best suits your plans depends on whether you prefer the tour’s thematic framework or a route of your own choosing.

In the visitor centre, the indoor exhibition “Extra-ordinary Lives” tells the stories of more than 20 people whose final resting place is in the cemetery. The interactive visitor centre also includes the award-winning exhibition “The City of the Dead.” The offerings differ in focus: “Extra-ordinary Lives” highlights people’s life stories, while “The City of the Dead” has been recognised as an interactive exhibition. Exhibition availability may change; check before your visit.

Connection Between the Cemetery and the Gardens

A gate on the Prospect Square side of Glasnevin Cemetery connects the cemetery with the National Botanic Gardens. If you are planning to visit both, this connection is a useful point of reference. Access arrangements may change; check the connection on site.

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