GERMAN
MILITARY
CEMETERY
GERMAN
MILITARY CEMETERY
POCKET IRELAND › Place Guides › German Military Cemetery
See also: Lourdes Grotto (across the road!)
Tucked away within a former granite quarry in the Wicklow Mountains, the German Military Cemetery offers a bastion of profound serenity. The rush of the nearby Glencree River provides a soothing, constant soundtrack that contrasts beautifully with the heavy silence of the polished granite and wrought-iron gates.
History
This tranquil, atmospheric site serves as the final resting place for 134 German military personnel and civilians who lost their lives in Ireland or its surrounding waters during the First and Second World Wars. It is a true hidden gem that encourages quiet reflection amidst the rugged, natural beauty of the Irish landscape.
Armoury Cafe
For a comforting conclusion to a brisk valley walk, visitors often wander just a few hundred metres down the road to the adjacent Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation to enjoy a warming pot of tea at the Armoury Cafe.
Unique Features
Hall of Honour
Features a natural stone “Hall of Honour”, adorned with an intricate Pietà mosaic designed by Munich artist Fritz Berz.
Celtic Cross
Showcases a towering Celtic high cross perched dramatically on the quarry's steep rock wall, watching over the burial ground.
Poetry
Greets visitors with a moving trilingual poem by Professor Stan O'Brien, engraved on a triangular stone stele at the entrance.
Waterfalls and “Lourdes Grotto”
Literally the other side of the road to the Cemetery, you can also walk down a beautiful short trail and across a footbridge to a cave shrine filled with images of Mary as well as trinkets and other Catholic imagery. Even if you are not religious it is a beautiful spot in the valley right beside the rushing waters of the river.
General Information
Opening Hours
Open 24 hours.
Accessibility
Not currently wheelchair accessible; the uneven quarry terrain, entrance, and immediate parking area pose challenges for wheelchair users.
Entry
FREE
Parking
FREE (but limited)
More in the Wicklow Mountains…
