Revisited this old cemetery near Arklow yesterday, about 5 months after my first visit and the time these photos were taken. The visit was for a friend’s band photo-shoot and while there I bumped into two very bemused men who were part of the renovation project that is going on there. The place is truly beautiful and deserves being restored, however this was an incredible sight all overgrown and wild. The restoration project has been underway since March apparently. The cemetery was mainly in use during the 1700s with up to 500 people being buried here. The pyramid tomb and mausoleum were commissioned by Ralph Howard, the 1st Viscount of Wicklow, during the 1780s, they are the final resting place for 18 members of his family. Howard had a strong interest in freemasonry and this is very evident in the structure at the old Kilbride Cemetery. I recommend getting down there for a visit before the restoration project is completed. Strangely when I compare the old photos to the current cemetery it seems some of the headstones have been removed, I’m guessing for restoration before being returned?
GPS: 52.8129, -6.15843
Wow great pictures. I never knew there was a pyramid in Wicklow. It is nice that it is being renovated but it’s possible it could lose some of its charm.
Great photographs, but you make the common mistake of thinking that the pillared lower section is the entrance to the pyramid. It is a completely different mausoleum. I and another local historian, Pat Power, were allowed to access to the interior of both in 1986.You can find details of the ionterior in my book ‘Arklow, the story of a town’. See http://www.dee-jay.ie or google Dee-Jay Publications, Arklow
Hi Jim, thanks a million for that piece of information. Well impressed with Dee-Jay publications, pretty much want one of each!! Is it best to buy direct off yourself or is there a retailer you use in Dublin?
It really is a beautiful place, its good to see all the restoration work thats going on there at the moment, such a huge difference in the place compared to eight months ago (when these photos were taken).
very sorry to have taken so long in replying. You can get any Dee-Jay books direct from me. See contact details at http://www.dee-jay.ie or e-mail jrees@eircom.net. Sorry again for the (very) long delay – it’s a long story.
Jim
Reblogged this on historicaltoursireland and commented:
Old Kilbride Cemetery, Arklow, Co. Wicklow.
where are the cemetery records.?
Unsure but there is this list http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/ireland-cemeteries/2006-01/1137929683