Mount Jerome Cemetery

Mount Jerome Cemetery

Mount Jerome Cemetery, located in Harold’s Cross, Dublin, is one of the city’s most significant and historical burial grounds. Established in 1836, it has witnessed over 300,000 burials, serving as a final resting place for many prominent Dubliners. The cemetery spans 47 acres and boasts an array of Victorian memorials, tombs, vaults, and crypts, making it a valuable repository of the city’s cultural and social history.

The name “Mount Jerome” is derived from the Reverend Stephen Jerome, a noted preacher who served as the Vicar of St. Kevin’s Parish in the 17th century. The lands were initially part of the vast holdings of St. Thomas’ Abbey, established in 1177. Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century, the Brabazon family, later known as the Earls of Meath, acquired the land. The estate, once known for its picturesque demesne, was home to several notable Dublin families over the centuries, including the Wilkinsons and the Keoghs.

The General Cemetery Company of Dublin, constituted by an Act of Parliament in 1834, purchased the Mount Jerome estate in 1836 to establish a non-denominational burial ground. The cemetery was modeled after Highgate Cemetery in London, reflecting the Victorian middle class’s desire for grand and elaborate monuments. Over time, Mount Jerome became one of Ireland’s most impressive collections of Victorian funerary architecture.

An often overlooked aspect of Mount Jerome’s history is its proximity to the Poddle River, a vital watercourse in Dublin’s development. The Poddle, which flows underground for much of its course, has played a significant role in shaping the landscape of the Harold’s Cross area, including the lands that would become Mount Jerome Cemetery. A short open stretch of the main Poddle course, which crosses this grid area, just below the boundary wall of Mount Jerome, at the back of the Russian Orthodox complex by the cemetery entrance, with interesting stone features. The river continues along the cemetery boundary and then goes into culvert, and its line crosses the Grand Canal and runs through the south city centre to the Liffey.

By the late 20th century, Mount Jerome Cemetery had fallen into a state of neglect. Diminishing burial numbers and reduced revenues led to overgrowth and vandalism. In 1984, the cemetery was put into voluntary liquidation. However, new ownership in 1998 and the establishment of a crematorium in 2000 marked the beginning of a revival. The cemetery’s restoration has returned it to its former glory, preserving its historical significance for future generations.

Today, Mount Jerome Cemetery is a place of reflection, history, and beauty. It stands as a testament to Dublin’s rich past, with its Victorian monuments telling the stories of the city’s influential families. The cemetery also reflects Dublin’s changing religious landscape, having initially served as a Protestant burial ground before opening its gates to Catholics in the 1920s.

 

Association with Poddle

The Poddle flowed from Kimmage Road Lower to behind the Russian Orthodox church. A short open stretch of the main Poddle course, which crosses this grid area, just below the boundary wall of Mount Jerome, at the back of the Russian Orthodox complex by the cemetery entrance, with interesting stone features. The river continues along the cemetery boundary and then goes into culvert.

 

What the Newspapers Say

  • The newspaper articles state that the Poddle flowed through the Cemetery. Nothing specific.
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