Once upon a time cabbages reigned supreme here. Welcome to the Cabbage Garden. It is more than just a quirky name. It is a window into Dublin’s past. This place now a peaceful park has a rather unusual story to tell.
Back in 1649 Oliver Cromwell’s forces arrived in Dublin. They needed a reliable food source. Soldiers rented this land from a local landowner. They planted cabbages. Thus the Cabbage Garden was born. Who knew a humble vegetable could give a place such a lasting name?
The story of the Cabbage Garden does not end with Cromwell’s cabbages. In 1666 the Dean and Chapter of St. Patrick’s Cathedral set aside this plot. It became a cemetery for the inhabitants of St. Patrick’s Close and the parish of St. Nicholas Without. Their existing cemetery was simply too full. Imagine the scene. Cabbages give way to headstones. A burial ground emerges from a vegetable patch.
Interestingly part of the Cabbage Garden was reserved for Huguenots. These French Protestants worshipped in the Lady Chapel of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. This dedicated space highlights Dublin’s history of welcoming diverse communities. A prayer was said when the graveyard was dedicated. It asked that the bones of those gathered would lie quiet and undisturbed.
The Cabbage Garden served as a burial ground until the late 19th century. It closed to most families in 1878. The last burial took place in 1896. The cemetery faded from active use. In 1982 Dublin City Council transformed part of the ground into a public park. The Cabbage Patch as it is sometimes called offers a green space amidst the urban surroundings.
Today you can stroll through this park. You might not find any cabbages growing. But you will find stacked headstones. These memorials line the perimeter. They serve as silent reminders of those who rest here. Historian Edward Ledwich is among those buried in the Cabbage Garden. Members of the La Touche family are also interred here.
The Cabbage Garden is accessible via Cathedral Lane. This lane was once known as Cabbage Garden Lane. The park’s transformation reflects Dublin’s ever-changing landscape. It blends history with modern life.
Think about the layers of history beneath your feet. Soldiers once cultivated this land. Families mourned loved ones here. Now people relax and play in this space. The Cabbage Garden is a testament to Dublin’s ability to adapt and remember. It is a unique blend of the ordinary and the profound. So next time you are near Upper Kevin Street take a stroll through the Cabbage Garden. Pay your respects to those who came before us. Remember the cabbages that started it all.