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Irish War Memorial

The Irish National War Memorial Gardens in Dublin is dedicated to the 49,400 Irish soldiers who were killed in World War I ( 1914-1918) .Over 300,000 Irishmen served in all armies.


All Irish men and women who served, fought and died in Irish Regiments of all Allied Armies are commemorated in these Memorial Gardens designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. Lutyens also designed the massive Thiepval Memorial Somme War Memorial in Picardy, France for the 72,090 allied soldiers killed & who have no known grave.

Sir Edwin Lutyens felt that the site was most fitting for the memorial. It lies some three kilometres from Dublin's centre, & located opposite the Phoenix Park obelisk on a slope near Kilmainham Hill.

A massive Irish granite Stone is surrounded by sunken Garden of Remembrance.This Irish National War Memorial is recognised as one of the best in the world & should be visited on your trip to Dublin.

Political problems have beset the Memorial for many years. At the same time in 1916 there were the very unusual circumstances of Irish fighting for Britain against the Germans and at the same time Irish fighting the British in Dublin. The Northern Ireland Peace Agreement & the passage of almost 100 years have ameliorated the situation allowing in July 2006 the first fully official "opening and dedication". This was attended by Mary McAleese, President of Ireland , the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Government officials & representatives of the four main Churches.

The Government department, Duchas, along with National War Memorial Committee manage The Irish National War Memorial Gardens.

If you have relatives killed the World Wars do come & pay your respects at the Irish National War Memorial.