92nd Highlanders, South Dublin Union, War Office demands, Privy Council.

Chapter IX.

One day, during the autumn of 1866, the Committee were surprised to receive from the quarters of the 92nd Highlanders, the following letter

“R.E. Office, Dublin Castle, 29th August, 1866.

“Sir - Being given to understand that the Cemetery adjoining Richmond Barracks is under your jurisdiction, I have the honor to request you will inform me whether any and what steps you could take to render it less obnoxious to the troops quartered in the barracks - whether it can at least for the present be closed, or if not, that interments may be made as far from the barrack as the nature of the ground will admit of. I have the honor to be, sir, &c.,

“F. Macbean**, **Major, 92nd Highlanders,

President Sanitary Committee.”

This missive the secretary briefly acknowledged, saying that it would be submitted on the 4th of the ensuing month to a General Board of the governing body. The following letter was the result:-

“Catholic Cemeteries Office, 7, Lower Ormond Quay,

“5th September, 1866.

“Sir - In reference to your communication of the 29th ultimo, I have the honor to inform you that the Cemetery at Golden Bridge cannot be closed, as it is established under special Act of Parliament, and that the governing body are not aware of any sanitary inconvenience that has arisen from it. I am to add, that the majority of the interments are made in the portion of the Cemetery most remote from the Richmond Barracks, and that a sub-committee from this Board visit the Cemetery once each month, to take into consideration any complaints that may be made in connection with it.

“I have the honor to be, sir, &c.,

“C. Coyle, Registrar.

“Major F. Macbean, 92nd Highlanders, &c.”

But, as the sequel will show, O’Connell was not the only man who could drive a coach-and-six through an Act of Parliament. From the day Glasnevin opened in 1832, the burials at Golden Bridge had enormously decreased, but they were yet sufficiently numerous to perturb Major Macbean.

General McMurdo is next found moving.

“South Dublin Union,

“Clerk’s Office, Board Room, James’s Street,

“17th day of October, 1866.

“Sir, - By direction of the Board of Guardians of this Union I send you enclosed copies of communications received from General McMurdo on the subject of a nuisance arising from Richmond Cemetery, and they request the immediate attention of the Cemeteries’ Committee thereto.

“I am, sir, your obedient servant,

“George Hepburn, Clerk of the Union.”

In a document enclosed by Mr. Hepburn, the following passage occurs: “It appears to General McMurdo that the Cemetery itself ought no longer to be used for burials, and he invites the serious attention of the Board to the subject. The ground being higher than the canal, from which the poor obtain their supply of water, the evil is obvious.” This point, as will be shewn, was utterly untenable, and will be found dealt with later on,

In January, 1868, General Sir Thomas Larcom, the Under Secretary for Ireland, wrote, by direction of the Lord Lieutenant, stating that, in consequence of an application from the War Office to close Golden Bridge Cemetery, “Dr. Hill made a careful investigation of its condition,” and a letter was enclosed from General Lord Longford, Under Secretary of War, urging “that such measures should be taken as Lord Abercorn may be advised to close the Cemetery to all future interments.” The report furnished by Dr. Hill, the official Inspector on behalf of the Poor Law Commissioners - a body now represented by the Local Government Board - goes on to say:-” The Cemetery is situated at the back of Richmond Barracks, from which it is separated by a road of moderate width, and is in the immediate vicinity of the populous village of Golden Bridge. It contains an area of about three statute acres, tastefully laid out and well kept, the whole being surrounded by a high wall. Some portions of the grounds are evidently well filled, and are above the level of the adjoining barracks, but in other parts there appears to be a considerable extent of unoccupied space, and, according to the Registrar, there is yet room for some thousands of graves. The Cemetery was opened in 1829, and up to the 31st ultimo 26,265 interments had taken place in it. Of late years, since the opening of another Cemetery at Glasnevin, the number of burials has decreased, and the present average is about 300 annually. I was informed by the Registrar that the ground is well drained, but I believe that the drainage flows into a sewer passing from the barracks to the river Camac. As regards the condition of this burial-ground, I observe nothing calling for unfavourable remark” - but he added that “its position so close to the barracks was objectionable.” And as regards the sewer, Dr. Hill adds in a subsequent letter, dated 30th September, 1867: “This arrangement was carried out some years since with the consent of the military authorities.”

General Lord Longford, the War Secretary, in a letter dated August 10th, 1867, gave prominence to a bold statement. Writing to General Sir T. Larcom, who, in point of fact, was the Government of Ireland, he goes on to say:- “It is stated that this Cemetery is situated in the midst of a populous district, and is so overcharged with bodies that the surface is much raised above the level of the ground in the vicinity, and that, consequently, the drainage from it is liable to impregnate the water in the neighbouring tanks,”

Sir Charles Cameron visited Golden Bridge, and wrote a r report, dated 24th March, 1868, the pith of which, in justice to the Cemeteries’ Committee, ought not to be ignored: “I have made a careful inspection of the Cemetery at Golden Bridge. The grounds appeared to me to evidence great care on the part of those persons entrusted with the charge of them. The walks were very clean, and in no part of the Cemetery did I observe decomposing vegetable matter or filth of any kind - of course I refer to the surface of the ground. The soil is covered with grass, which, at the time of my visits, the 17th and 24th March, was healthy and luxuriant. I also observed numerous trees and shrubs, which exhibited all the appearances indicative of healthy vitality. The soil appeared to be dry, and I am informed that the drainage of the ground is secured by means of two deep cuts, which, after nearly encircling the Cemetery, meet near the entrance. So far as I could judge with the eye, the level, at the lowest part of the Cemetery, is not more than two feet below the level or surface of the highest portion.”

Doctor Mapother had also reported, under date, March 10th, 1868:- “At the request of the Committee I this day visited the Golden Bridge Cemetery for the purpose of reporting on its condition, and expressing my opinion whether it could affect injuriously the health of the inmates of the Richmond Barracks or the adjoining township.’ A cemetery may he hurtful to those living around in three ways. First - By polluting water supply. I am informed that the water for the barracks is derived from the Grand Canal immediately adjoining. Soakage from the Cemetery cannot find its way into this canal, as the surface of its water is at least eight feet above the surface of the Cemetery which slopes from the edge next the canal towards the northern side. A ditch, varying from six to ten feet, lies between the wall of the Cemetery and the canal, and as it was perfectly dry it seems that the canal bank is staunch. Second - By soakage through the walls and floors of their houses. I saw no evidence of soakage towards the barracks, the northern wall of the Cemetery appearing sound and dry below the level of the Cemetery ground. I saw two grave-spaces open to the depth of three feet, and the earth seemed to me dry and well charged with vegetable matter, conditions which indicate that the soil is well drained and suitable for promoting decomposition of bodies, facts further proved by the very luxuriant growth of trees and grass. Third - by effluvia given off from the decomposing bodies. I do not think that there is any escape of effluvia into the air from this Cemetery, as the earth is of the character just described, and would therefore absorb it as the interments appear to be carefully performed, three feet of earth at least covering each coffin.

Indignation meetings, to protest against the action of the military authorities, were held at Inchicore, and are fully reported in the papers of the day. The amusing rhetorical statement was made by one speaker, namely, “that the troops wanted to make a parade ground of the Cemetery.” One thing, at least, seemed fairly evident

• that its doom had been already decreed by the War Office.

The Dublin Gazette *of June 9th, 1868, contained a Proclamation in which the representations made to the Lords Justices by the Military secretary to the General commanding the forces in Ireland, and by the Secretary of State for War, were set forth - followed by the intimation that: “All parties having any objections to the proposed order for closing the said burial-ground are hereby informed that they are at liberty to appear before the Privy Council in support of their objections, either personally, or by counsel, on the 15th day of July next.”

The Right Hon. Abraham Brewster, who was then Lord Chancellor, presided. Some good points were made for the defence, but the result was a foregone conclusion. The Privy Council strengthened its order by an imposing array of names, the owners of which have all since joined the majority. They formally limited future interments to all those who had acquired rights of burial by purchase, or had relatives already entombed at Golden Bridge Cemetery. To a cruel law or usage it owed its origin; and by a harsh edict its uses as a Cemetery practically ceased.

The virtual closing of Golden Bridge Cemetery might be regretted perhaps on other grounds. Though nominally a Catholic burial place, it had thrown open its gates since 1829** **to the remains of other sects, whose clergy were free to perform in the grounds whatsoever religious rites they desired.

Cemetery Index. Home.