Discover Dublin

This thread really doesn’t do justice to the stories that are related to this graveyard. If you get an opportunity to do a tour, I highly recommend it. ~End

#DiscoverDublin #history #militaryhistory @theirishstory.bsky.social

However, the ship was struck by 2 torpedoes launched from a U-Boat. Of the 771 people on board, 501 died, including Blackburn & his family. 33 days later, the armistice with Germany was signed. It is the worst naval disaster in the Irish Sea. ~8

aged 38, seeing action in the Ypres sector, where he was injured. Recuperating in, and eventually stationed at, the Royal Kilmainham Hospital, he once again saw action during the 1916 Rising.
In 1918 he booked passage on the RMS Leinster with his wife & 2 children, en route to Holyhead. ~7

Kilmainham Hospital.

Finally, there is Charles Blackburn (died 1918), who witnessed many of the events that shaped the early 20th Century. He saw action during the Boer war as a Captain, where he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. At the outbreak of the 1st World war, he re-enlisted...~6

Dr. William Clarke (died 1899), born in Limerick, studied at the RCSI in Dublin before joining the British Army, serving as an assistant surgeon in the 4th Light Dragoon (who took part in The Charge of the Light Brigade). After the war, he returned to Ireland & was appointed Surgeon to the Royal..~5

Capt Kenneth Tolnie (died 1809) was a Captain in the Royal Highlanders during the French & Indian War & was one of the few officers that survived the Siege of Fort Ticonderoga at the Battle of Carrillon in 1748, a fort that was believed to be virtually impregnable.
tinyurl.com/yc7fr6vb ~4

the stories. The oldest military headstone belongs to Corporal William Proby, (died 28th July 1700). Prody fought in the English Civil war as musketeer at Baggotrath Castle on Baggot St! He also fought at the Battle of the Boyne being wounded beside the Duke of Schombergs, who died at the battle. ~3

there, approx. 67 headstones remain. The oldest dates to 1652, with the earliest military one from 1700. Incredibly, the tales these headstones tell range from The Battle of the Boyne, to the American Revolution; the Crimea to the sinking of the RMS Leinster. I'm just going to touch on some of...~2

Bullys Acre 2: Officers Burial Ground, Kilmainham Hospital – Situated across from Bullys Acre, the Officers burial ground sits in stark contrast to the "commoners" final resting place. Reserved for officers & their families who either served in the Royal Hospital at Kilmainham or were pensioners..~1

Rebel execution, 1916
A propaganda drawing from "Das Interessante Blatt", an Austrian magazine from May 1916.
It's supposed to show the execution of a rebel leader from the Easter Rising, but almost everything about it is wrong...
(Featured on Century Ireland.)

with some of the remains being deposited in Bullys Acre for some reason. ~End

More info:

tinyurl.com/y2xecm7h
tinyurl.com/ydcwu9sw
tinyurl.com/mstnxek7

#DiscoverDublin

The remains within this cemetery also contain parts of Queen Victoria! Well, parts of her statue that is. The statue that once graced the lawn of Leinster House stood on an elaborate pedestal. Upon her removal in 1948, the statue was put in storage, while the pedestal was broken up... ~10

briefest time. It is claimed that Robert Emmet, leader of the failed 1803 Rebellion, was interred here following his execution. But his body was quickly moved to another, unknown resting place, & its locations remains one of the greatest mysteries in Irish history. ~9

demanded the body's return, which was duly handed over – minus the right arm! And like the famous boxer, this arm has had an amazing journey. Passed from teaching hospitals, to museums to pubs(!), the arm is now on display in Kildare. Another famous Irishman was buried here, but for the...~8

recommend you check out his story. Upon his death, he was buried in the Bullys Acre, but his fame did not protect him from the scourge of body snatchers who disinterred his body & delivered it to a local surgeon. Upon finding his empty grave, the citizens of Dublin, who adored him in life... ~7

Another famous character buried here is Dan Donnelly (1788 –1820), professional boxing pioneer & the 1st Irish-born heavyweight champion. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, Pioneers Category in 2008. His feats in boxing are too numerous to mention here, but I do... ~6

including the Kings' son & grandson, with the High Cross marking the tomb of Brian Boru’s son Murrough! When the cross was knock over & damaged in 1755, a hoard of Danish coins & a sword was discovered under the cross, which was believed to have been Murrough's own. ~5

leading to a decline in its use. The remains of a High Cross can be seen, possibly marking the boundary of the priory, or the final resting place for Brian Boru’s son, Murrough! It is said that after the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, several chieftains of Brian Boru’s army were buried here...~4

ground, & also that it was free to bury people there. On the feast day of St John (24th June), the graveyard became a site of “piety mixed with revelry & debauchery & dissipation”. This rowdiness eventually led to the authorities leveling the graveyard, removing the headstones, eventually...~3

set up by St. Maignenn in the 7th cen. "Bully" may be a corruption of the word “baily”, a title given to priory officials. It may also refer to the graveyard being a site for boxing matches! Its claimed that hundreds of thousands of people are buried here, as the graveyard was on consecrated...~2

Bully's Acre(1), Kilmainham Hospital – Just inside the gates of Richmond Tower lies Dublin's oldest graveyard, & the stories & people associated with Bully's Acre are breathtaking. So this thread will be broken into three separate tweets. Bully’s Acre is situated in what was originally a priory...~1

The Irish Great Famine; “Gorta Mór” (Great hunger); “Drochshaol” (the bad times) is a defining disaster in Irish history. It’s the before and after of our understanding of our country. Generally accepted estimate is 1 million died, and millions fled, and the Irish population fell for generations 1/

And a visit to a local grappa shop, Poli Distillerie. I'm a whiskey man all day long, but these were truly exceptional!

Random Venice - a Banksy, accompanied by a "low res" Vetruvian" man. Also came across the Ponte Chiodo, one of the few remaining original bridges spanning the Venetian canals. Health & Safety bedamned!

Well, there is a small bit of green to be seen.

I'll have to keep an eye out for that as I head further out of the city. But so far, it's definitely not as green as Dublin.

Alright, so Venice does have some nice canals, to give our Grand and Royal a run for their money

Cantina Do Mori, Venice - the oldest bacaro (tavern) in Venice, dating from 1462, it is supposedly where Casanova brought his 1st dates to. So naturally I had to check it out. Amazing cichetti (think tapas) & local wine, these places are the ideal stopovers to rest & soak up the venetian atmosphere.

Well now, I hear they have canals here. Gonna check if they can hold a candle to the Grand and Royal 😋