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Dead Interesting: Stories from the Graveyards of Dublin
From the simplest slab of weathered stone to the most imposing monument, every marker in Glasnevin cemetery bears witness to a life that, in ways small or large, helped shape the history and culture of the Irish state. Shane MacThomáis offers a fascinating insight into some of these lives in this book. Within its pages, you'll meet not only the heroes of the Irish fight for freedom, like Michael Collins and Éamon de Valera, but also lesser-known Irish men and women who made important contributions to the state in the arts, sports, military service, politics and other areas of Irish life. Glasnevin Cemetery, encompassing Mount Jerome, Bully's Acre, the Hugeunot Cemetery and the jewish Cemetery, has great national significance through the social and historical influence of the people buried there from all walks of life over 178 years. Famous people interred there include the founder of the cemetery, Daniel O'Connell, as well as Charles Stewart Parnell, Anne Devlin, O'Donovan Rossa, Christy Brown, Brendan Behan and Luke Kelly.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
192 pages, Paperback
First published May 28, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 20, 2024
The late Shane Mac Thomais was a well known guide in Ireland’s largest cemetery. His father was a journalist and amateur historian as well. At some point Shane took up giving tours in Glasnevin Cemetery and was extremely popular. This book shows his love and knowledge of his workplace. He also manages to slip in information from other Dublin cemeteries.
I like to visit cemeteries when visiting cities and would have loved taking a tour with Mac Thomais. A lot of history is resting here even though it’s not that ancient. The book explains its beginnings in the early 19th century. At that time those in power did not allow Catholic services in public places. Eventually these repressive laws were changed and new laws enacted. That was the starting point for this burial ground. Its first burial was in 1832.
Dead Interesting includes stories of the wealthy, the poor, the well known and the unknowns, and is heavy on contentious 19th and 20th century political history. If we could only hear the shades bickering! We hear of nationalists, IRAs, fascists, communists, and Orangemen. Among the most famous politicians here are Michael Collins whose burial was attended by some 500,000 people. It’s a pity James Joyce died overseas and evidently had no interest in returning to Dublin. He would have been a star here.
If you tire of the funerals of politicians and political martyrs you can listen to Mac Thomais’ stories of the desperately poor from The Liberties, the grave robbers and just plain thieves. The towers in the high brick walls surrounding the cemetery once held guards who were there to stop grave robbing.
Unfortunately the one person not included in the book but who is indeed buried in Glasnevin is the author. He suffered from chronic depression and took his life in his cemetery. I hope he has many visitors.
I like to visit cemeteries when visiting cities and would have loved taking a tour with Mac Thomais. A lot of history is resting here even though it’s not that ancient. The book explains its beginnings in the early 19th century. At that time those in power did not allow Catholic services in public places. Eventually these repressive laws were changed and new laws enacted. That was the starting point for this burial ground. Its first burial was in 1832.
Dead Interesting includes stories of the wealthy, the poor, the well known and the unknowns, and is heavy on contentious 19th and 20th century political history. If we could only hear the shades bickering! We hear of nationalists, IRAs, fascists, communists, and Orangemen. Among the most famous politicians here are Michael Collins whose burial was attended by some 500,000 people. It’s a pity James Joyce died overseas and evidently had no interest in returning to Dublin. He would have been a star here.
If you tire of the funerals of politicians and political martyrs you can listen to Mac Thomais’ stories of the desperately poor from The Liberties, the grave robbers and just plain thieves. The towers in the high brick walls surrounding the cemetery once held guards who were there to stop grave robbing.
Unfortunately the one person not included in the book but who is indeed buried in Glasnevin is the author. He suffered from chronic depression and took his life in his cemetery. I hope he has many visitors.
June 8, 2016
The majority of these stories are about men involved in wars, revolutions, and the troubled times in Ireland's history. Scattered among them though are stories of others including the oldest woman, a family poisoned by mussles, and even includes chapters on grave robbers, diseases that wiped out so many just to explain a few items found in this book. A wonderful read full of history.
October 6, 2021
An avid epitaph hunter who loves old, overgrown graveyards, I came to this from 'Tomb with a View' - and after watching Shane Macthomais on YouTube. A tour guide for Glasnevin cemetary until his own untimely death, his enthusiasm for this fascinating burial ground in Dublin and all the extraordinary people interred there is very apparent. Shane is a talker rather than a writer so the accounts are rather simply narrated, but fascinating in themselves. I learned a lot of Irish social history and the book is a reminder that the long dead are the key to how we have evolved and that each life story - however lowly - is truly unique.
January 12, 2024
Glasnevin Cemetery has long since been one of my favourite places in Dublin to spend an afternoon, accompanied by a pint of Guinness in the Gravediggers before the road for home.
This book by the late Shane MacThomáis, historian and Glasnevin tour guide is a wonderful companion piece to a visit to the cemetery.
There are more people buried in Glasnevin than there are walking the streets of Dublin today, for former state leaders, to unmarked grave's of the cities less fortunates. Many of their stories are contained within, highly recommended for anyone with a passing interest in Irish history, social and political.
This book by the late Shane MacThomáis, historian and Glasnevin tour guide is a wonderful companion piece to a visit to the cemetery.
There are more people buried in Glasnevin than there are walking the streets of Dublin today, for former state leaders, to unmarked grave's of the cities less fortunates. Many of their stories are contained within, highly recommended for anyone with a passing interest in Irish history, social and political.
June 3, 2024
Really enjoy. The chapters are each on different people and movements that affected Ireland's history. Nice and short to introduce you to the figures so you can continue ue your own research to those that interest you.
My only complaint is that the book is written with the assumption that you already know key movements and groups within irish history. Unfortunately, in the States, Irish history is not taught, so I had to do outside research to understand so.e of what the book was talking about, such as Fenians, for example.
My only complaint is that the book is written with the assumption that you already know key movements and groups within irish history. Unfortunately, in the States, Irish history is not taught, so I had to do outside research to understand so.e of what the book was talking about, such as Fenians, for example.
July 22, 2022
I got this when I went to Glasnevin in Dublin and it was worth the read. It is interesting to see some stories after getting home. That was one of my favorite graveyards, but it is nice to read about graveyards that I didn't get a chance to visit. I would recommend this to anyone that likes short stories about people and their graves.
January 3, 2019
Excellent book - engaging and informative from first page to last. RIP Shane
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews