The Ward Cemetery is enclosed by a limestone wall, with the foundations of an old church at its centre. The oldest gravestone recorded in the cemetery dates from 1720. The cemetery also stands higher than the surrounding ground. This location could indicate that it has been used as a burial place for a very long time. The wall, church foundations and gravestone give Ward a tangible connection to the history of this place.
The cemetery and its historical context
For geographical context, the cemetery is 13 km from Dublin. It is on the road leading east from Mulhuddart, just before it meets the road running northwest from Fingal towards Ashbourne. Fingal County Council is responsible for the cemetery and its burial records. This responsibility complements the view of its architectural features with a connection to the burial records.
Other historical connections in Ward
Ward Lower Church Well is a holy well in a field beside Ward Lower Church. Kilshane Moat in The Ward is listed as a possible motte, while Newpark in The Ward is listed as an enclosed earthwork. Alongside the cemetery, these sites offer other kinds of historical connections: a well, a possible motte and an earthwork. The classification of Kilshane Moat is explicitly tentative. Together, these places form a local cluster connecting church and burial history with archaeological classifications.
County Fingal: coast and landscape
As a broader destination, County Fingal offers a wider landscape setting. Its coastline is 88 km long and stretches from Sutton to Balbriggan. It includes three protected estuaries, salt marshes and 13 larger beaches. The beaches differ in both length and features: Velvet Strand in Portmarnock is a 5 km-long sandy beach. Balcarrick Beach is 3.4 km long and includes sand, dunes and rock pools. Skerries South Strand stretches for 2 km and has a promenade and a coastal path. These specific stretches, with their varied forms and lengths, offer a way to explore the coastline of County Fingal.
Trails and cultural attractions in County Fingal
The Howth cliff paths offer another way to experience County Fingal. The Howth Cliff Path comprises four loop walks ranging from 6 to 10 km. The Howth Cliff Path Loop starts at Howth DART station, follows the cliffs to “The Summit” and returns via a path running parallel to the outward route. The cliff paths offer views of Ireland’s Eye and Lambay Island. The cliffs along the marked routes are important habitats for birds; grey seals can also be spotted there.
For a cultural alternative, there is Skerries Mills, a restored complex with two windmills, a watermill and a 19th-century bakery. On guided tours, visitors can grind flour traditionally using a millstone and watch the waterwheel in operation. In Malahide, the Casino Model Railway Museum is housed in the restored Casino Cottage. It is Ireland’s first model railway museum; an interactive exhibition features working modern models and offers insights into the Irish railway and tram system. Alongside its coastal landscapes, these examples give County Fingal distinctive themes in history and technology.
Choosing where to stay therefore depends on what you want to focus on during your trip: Ward’s cemetery and archaeological history, or the wider range of coastal and cultural attractions in County Fingal. If you are looking for a holiday rental, you can choose your destination to suit the kind of trip you want.
Discover more destinations: Cloghran, Malahide, Lusk, Kilsallaghan, Garristown, Howth, Rush, Portmarnock.
For the broader travel overview: County Fingal.
