MOUNT
CONGREVE
GARDENS
HOWARD MAUSOLEUM
PYRAMID
POCKET IRELAND › Place Guides › Howard Mausoleum Pyramid
Hidden within the overgrown embrace of the old Kilbride Churchyard lies one of Ireland’s most surreal and unexpected architectural oddities: a granite pyramid rising starkly against the lush green backdrop of the Wicklow countryside. It is a quiet, somewhat eerie, but captivating spot that speaks to the eccentric tastes of the 18th-century aristocracy.
History and Features
The pyramid was commissioned in 1785 for Ralph Howard, the 1st Viscount Wicklow. It stands about 30 feet tall on the graveyard's highest point. Constructed from heavy granite blocks, the structure was designed to hold 33 coffins, though only 18 members of the Howard family were ever interred here. The pyramid itself is sealed, but the external stonework is the main attraction.
The “Other” Entrance
Don’t confuse the temple-fronted building at the bottom of the slope for the pyramid's entrance. Just beneath the pyramid sits a second structure, often mistaken for the entrance; it is actually a separate, temple-style vault with a heavy Egyptian influence, adding to the site's necropolis atmosphere.
Just a “Stop-off” Visit
The site is very small, though it offers nice expansive views down across the fields to Arklow town and the coast. It is something to pay a visit if you are passing, but not worth a special trip unless this type of thing is your passion.
General Information
Address
Howard Mausoleum Pyramid,
Old Kilbride Cemetery,
Co. Wicklow,
Ireland
Website
None.
Opening Hours
Open 24 hours.
Accessibility
Not accessible.
Entry
FREE.
Parking
Just a small spot by the road.
