The shared grave
Stand back to take in the low grave and surrounding memorial before reading the names. This is a shared burial, so its quiet scale matters as much as the larger commemorative stonework.
heritage · Dublin
Arbour Hill Cemetery
Arbour Hill is a place to pause at the end of a Dublin history walk. Fourteen executed leaders of the Easter Rising are buried here, and the memorial gives their shared grave a powerful presence within an older military cemetery. Allow time to read as well as look.
From research
Is this worth your time?
Choose this stop for a quieter encounter with the aftermath of 1916. Begin at the leaders’ grave, then consider the older memorials around the church. The contrast helps place the Rising within a longer history of the military institutions occupying this part of Dublin.
Know before you book: The cemetery is an outdoor visit with uneven walkways. A visit to the grounds does not establish access to the adjoining church or prison. Leave time before the 16:00 closing hour and treat the memorial as a burial place.
Place highlights
What you will actually see
The bilingual memorial
Look closely at the English and Irish inscriptions. Reading both the individual names and the wider words of commemoration makes the visit more than a photograph of the monument.
The older military cemetery
Where public paths permit, look at the memorials behind the adjoining church. These introduce a different part of the site’s history and deserve the same care and respect as the leaders’ grave.
The story behind the visit
The story behind the place
Following their executions at Kilmainham Gaol, fourteen leaders of the 1916 Rising were brought to Arbour Hill for burial. The OPW identifies Patrick Pearse, James Connolly and John MacBride among them. Their burial here connects this quiet place with events that unfolded at several other Dublin sites. Source ↗
The bodies were initially placed in an unmarked grave. The memorial now gives the burial a visible and carefully composed setting. The OPW’s cemetery material describes the low mound and granite terrace; pause to notice the change from a hidden burial to a public place of remembrance. Source ↗
Arbour Hill also contains memorials to British military personnel. Looking beyond the best-known grave reveals how several histories occupy the same grounds. Keep those histories distinct: the meaning of one monument does not explain every inscription in the cemetery. Source ↗
Visitor information
Tickets, timing and access
- Time to allow
- Reserve 45 minutes as an editorial planning estimate for the grounds. Add travel and any separate museum visit; this is not the duration of a booked tour.Confirm with the operator ↗
- Year-round opening
- Monday–Friday 08:00–16:00; Saturday 11:00–16:00; Sunday 09:30–16:00. Check current notices for exceptional closures.Confirm with the operator ↗
- Admission and tours
- Cemetery admission is free. Published Friday 14:00 tours run April–October; a winter visit should be planned without assuming a guide is present.Confirm with the operator ↗
- Paths and dogs
- The OPW notes uneven walkways and advises appropriate footwear. Dogs must be on leads in the grounds and are not permitted at the 1916 grave.Confirm with the operator ↗
Getting to the entrance
Use Arbour Hill, Dublin 7, D07 YRR2. The cemetery is behind Collins Barracks, but use its own public access from Arbour Hill street. The official marker locates the site rather than a verified gate; follow cemetery signs, not prison visiting directions. Official visitor information ↗
Your questions, answered
Confirm current access and visitor arrangements with the operator.
Is cemetery admission free?
Yes. The OPW lists free admission to the cemetery during its opening hours. Source ↗
Can I rely on a guided visit in November?
No. The published regular tour season is April–October. Plan an independent grounds visit unless the operator confirms a specific alternative. Source ↗
Does this visit include the church?
The guide covers the cemetery. The adjoining church and prison have separate functions; do not assume either is open for general sightseeing. Source ↗
Nearby options
Nearby places to explore
Explore other places in the area, then use live directions to plan your journey.
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Part of a bigger journey
Location & access
Getting your bearings
The cemetery is an outdoor visit with uneven walkways. A visit to the grounds does not establish access to the adjoining church or prison. Leave time before the 16:00 closing hour and treat the memorial as a burial place.
53.35096, -6.28712 · Reference point; confirm the correct entrance and access. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Orientation only: a verified public entrance is not established by this pin. Use the operator arrival information before travel.