St Canice’s Graveyard in Finglas will soon be seeing a much needed face lift after Dublin City Council hired specialist consultants to oversee the maintenance and preservation of the historic cemetery.
The local authority has been criticised by local residents and councillors over for their handling of the graveyard in recent years, accusing it of not properly maintaining its upkeep.
At a North West Area committee meeting last week, the council said in its report that the works will be taking place shortly and “are designed to assist in the management of the site’s built, archaeological and ecological heritage.”
Councillors voiced their displeasure at the current condition of the graveyard, saying that if not for the local residents, it could have fallen into total disrepair.
Local Fianna Fail councillor Keith Connolly said that he “would be very critical of the contractors that DCC have used in the graveyard in recent years.
“If it wasn’t for the Lynch family, Finglas Historical society, Finglas Tidy Towns and other volunteers it would be completely overgrown,” he says.
“I believe the two new contractors appointed are specialists in historical sites which is to be welcomed.”
The Lynch family have been maintaining the graveyard for five generations, with Finglas resident Joe Lynch still playing a vital role in its maintenance.
Social Democrats councillor Mary Callaghan said that the commitment from the council to dedicate additional resources to the graveyard is welcomed.
“A local volunteer group has been working tirelessly to keep the cemetery in good condition but expert help is also required to maintain it,” she says.
“Good communication between local volunteers and the city archaeologists is essential as both can learn from each other.”
Anthony Connaghan, a Sinn Fein councillor for the area said that this has been an “ongoing saga” and St Canice’s has not been granted the “same amount of attention” by the council as other graveyards.
“It’s gotten to stage that it feels like if it was located in a more affluent area it would be looked after,” he says.
The historic nature of the graveyard has also been a point of contention for local people too, councillors say.
It is estimated that the cemetery is over 1,000 years old and is the final resting place of various local gentry from several different generations.
The original abbey which stood on the grounds is gone, but the ruins of the Church of St Canice, built in the 10th century or 12th century, still remains.
A stone Celtic cross, a nethercross, also estimated to be 1,000 years old currently stands on the Wellmount Road side of the graveyard but has been severally eroded away and in need of restoration.
“The graveyard is an absolute treasure in the centre of Finglas but very few people are aware that it is there,” Callaghan says.
“The seven-foot Celtic cross that stands by the entrance is well over 1,000 years old but has been deteriorating rapidly in recent years due to pollution.
“The church grounds are magical but in disrepair,” she says.
“Not only do we need to maintain and preserve this cemetery, but we also need to enhance it and open it up to the public going forward”.
To help fund the restoration of the graveyard Dublin City Council has applied for the Community Monument’s Fund to the sum of €85,000.
The fund, which is ran by the Department of Heritage, “invests in archaeological heritage and helps owners and custodians of archaeological monuments to safeguard them into the future.”
Connaghan says he welcomes the council’s decision to apply for the funding and that the graveyard is now “gaining attention”
“All of these volunteers have worked tirelessly over the years and it’s great that the council is now complimenting them,” he says.