Bully’s Acre Cemetery Tour
Dates
11/04/2026 - 11/04/2026
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Location
Royal Hospital Kilmainham
A tour through the cemeteries of the Royal Hospital discussing death, mourning and burial rites during its long history
Covering 1,500 years of history this tour explores the Royal Hospital, its history and relationship with the local community through the three cemeteries on site. Covering monks, soldiers, veterans and body snatchers just to name a few, different stories are used to illuminate death, dying and how communities would interact and deal with it. How people wanted to be remembered, and how they protected communal spaces. It helps to illuminate funerary architecture and practices both military and civilian.
The meeting spot is the entrance to Bully's Acre in the grounds of the Royal Hospital. This is situated a short walk up the western avenue entrance, beside the fields of the Royal Hospital. Western entrance is off South Circular Road. The guides will be waiting outside for you from about 1:55pm.
Getting Here
By Luas: Red line to Heuston Station (8 minutes walk via Military Road.)
By Bus: Buses to Heuston Station (8 minutes walk via Military Rd): C1, C2, C3, C4 from Aston Quay. Buses to James Street (8 minutes walk via steps to Bow Lane onto Irwin Street and Military Road): 13 from O’Connell Street or Dame Street; G1 and G2 from Eden Quay.
By Car: Paid car parking – €3 for the first 3 hrs
On Foot: Approx. 30 to 40 minutes from the city centre.
By Train: 8 minutes walk from Heuston Station.
Cycling: There is bike parking onsite and a number of Dublin Bikes stations located nearby.
*The pedestrian entrance via east gate (Military Road) is steep and caution is advised to pedestrians and cyclists*
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