Huguenot Cemetery

The Huguenot Cemetery is a small cemetery dating from 1693 located near St. Stephen's Green, beside the Shelbourne Hotel. Those buried there are descendants of Huguenots who fled persecution in France following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes which had guaranteed religious freedom. The Huguenots were encouraged to come to Ireland and they quickly established a thriving community in Dublin and elsewhere in Ireland. The Huguenots were renowned for their skills in textiles, watchmaking and finance and were an integral part of the commercial and civic life of Dublin. Famous Irish people of Huguenot descent include Seam Lemass (Irish revolutionary and former Taoiseach), Samuel Beckett (Irish Writer), and Wolfe Tone (Founder of the United Irishman and regarded as the father of Irish Republicanism).There are 239 surnames located in this graveyard. Today, the cemetery sits between the undistinguished Huguenot House (on the left) and the Department of Finance (on the right), with the Department of Agriculture and Government Buildings in behind. Although the Cemetery can be viewed through the gates by passer-by, the gates are usually kept locked and the Cemetery is maintained by Dublin City Council.