Green Flag Award for military cemetery

GRANGEGORMAN Military Cemetery is to be presented with a prestigious Green Flag Award it was announced last week. 

Ireland’s largest military cemetery was opened in 1876 to serve as a graveyard for the soldiers and their families of what was then Marlborough Barracks (now McKee Barracks). 

The Grangegorman cemetery is an oasis of peace and tranquillity, and a near picture perfect Victorian garden cemetery. 

The mature tree collection of over 26 species in the small site adds to its solemn and reflective atmosphere. From mature copper beech to coastal redwoods, the trees stand like guardians throughout the grounds.

To reflect the geographical span of the British Empire at that time, specific plots within the cemetery were laid out for soldiers from Canada, New Zealand and Australia. The cemetery contains the graves of soldiers who served in the Crimean War 1854-1856, World War I 1914-1918, World War II 1937-1945, War of Independence 1919-1921 and the Easter Rising 1916.

News of the award was announced at the Phoenix Park Visitors’ Centre last week where it was revealed that 22 parks and green spaces across Ireland were to receive flags.

The green flags are awarded for exceeding tough environmental standards for green space management and visitor facilities.

This is the first year the international award has been available to public parks, country parks, cemeteries and green spaces across the whole country.

Last year saw an initial trial introduction of the Green Flag Award, with a pilot run jointly with Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council, and the Office of Public Works.

This saw some of the capital area’s most significant landmark parks and estates recognised for the quality of their recreational and historic green spaces.

Robert Moss, the Green Flag Awards for Parks Manager for the Republic of Ireland, said the accolade was a reward for outstanding efforts.

“The often unseen hard work of many park staff over many years has provided Ireland with a wealth of treasured parks, gardens, and green spaces,” he said.

“These important amenities provide us with a welcome refuge from the stress of urban life, and are major attractions for tourists and other visitors to Ireland.”