Dublin’s St James’s Church and Graveyard were founded between 1189-92 and dedicated to the saint believed to be buried in Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

A total of about 100,000 people were buried in St James’s Graveyard before its closure in 1989, most of them Catholics. The graveyard is now owned by Dublin City Council which is in the process of restoring it as a place of public access. Notable individuals buried in St James’s Graveyard include Bishop Conor O’Devany, Sir Toby Butler, courtesan Peg Plunket, distiller James Power, Easter Rising Volunteer John J O’Grady and nine members of Dr Pearse Lyons’s own family.

Sean J Murphy is a history graduate of University College Dublin and works as a genealogical and historical researcher, lecturer and writer. For many years he gave Adult Education classes in UCD and currently provides courses for the National Library of Ireland. His most recent publication is A History of St James’s Church and Graveyard, Dublin, from the 12th to 21st Centuries.

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