St Begnet’s graveyard is situated adjacent to the Heritage Centre on Castle St.

Access is through the Heritage Centre, although it is not in their ownership; Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council act as caretakers for the graveyard and have provided a limited degree of maintenance over the years, but sadly, it is now obvious that a major conservation and preservation programme is necessary.

There is evidence of an ecclesiastical settlement from the 6^th Century and the present church building dates from the 11^th Century.

It is interesting that during its history, it has been a resting place for both Catholic and Protestant residents of Dalkey.

There is a memorial to the lives lost during the shipwrecks of 1807 amongst the gravestones, many of them in very poor condition.

There is no information available to the many visitors to the graveyard about the history of the church or its grounds or of the families buried there.

The pathways have deteriorated and many of the trees and shrubs have become too large for the site.

The Heritage Centre is constantly made aware by visitors of the neglected state of the graveyard, but it is not in a position to finance the necessary programme of reinstatement-

   

1) Reconstitution of existing and perimeter pathway.

2)     Pathways required to Church and Tau cross.

3)     Stabilisation of the gravestones

4)     Information panels (3’ by 6’) – Internal and External…

History of Church
Position of graves
Names of burials
Scan of Church

The Heritage Centre has funded the following preliminary works: -

a)     Conservation report on both the Church and graveyard (provided by Duchas)

b)     Outline survey

c)     An archeologist supervised the removal of ivy from the church building.

d)     Some interim works have been carried out by the Parks Department of the County Council.

It would therefore seem to be appropriate that the community of Dalkey should work together and find the funding necessary to provide a fitting resting place for past generations of Dalkey people.

For more information and your comments, email us at info@dalkeycommunitycouncil.com