Rathfarnham Graveyard Tour

To celebrate the collaboration with SDCC and provide an insight into the phenomenal work completed, the Rathfarnham Village Tidy Towns Group hosted Mayor Councillor Pamela Kearns, SDCC Councillors, SDCC Climate Action Director Teresa Walsh and SDCC staff members on a tour of the Old Rathfarnham Graveyard on 18th of June 2026.

Mayor Councillor Pamela Kearns thanked the volunteers for taking the initiative to start this project in 2023 and allow for the Graveyard to be made accessible to the public once again, unveiling a hidden gem right at the heart of Rathfarnham Village. The Mayor acknowledged that, along with the immeasurable amount of physical labour' using only hand tools, a great deal of research has also gone into this project, uncovering many astounding local, national and international links.

Chairperson of Rathfarnham Village Tidy Towns, Councillor Lynn McCrave, praised the volunteer team for their endless dedication and extended a thanks to SDCC for their support with this project, particularly the Climate Action Director, Public Realm staff members, Heritage Officer Rosaleen Dwyer and the Environmental Awareness team. Damian MacGarry, Tidy Towns Committee Member and prominent local historian, provided a wonderfully immersive tour of the Old Graveyard engaging the participants with details of a genuine Viking slab, the mystery of Bram Stoker's nurse and the true origins of Kelly’s Corner!

Attendees to the graveyard are growing in numbers with Rathfarnham Village Tidy Towns hosting tours on the first Wednesday of every month and a full week of tours is planned for Heritage Week 2026.