Where did the headstones go? That’s the mystery of St Peter’s Cemetery. St Peter’s Churchyard once stood on Peter Row. It served a large parish for centuries. Then in 1980 it was demolished. The YMCA bought the land. What happened to the graves? That’s a story for the ages.
The history of St Peter’s Cemetery is entwined with the church. Records show St Peter’s existed as far back as the 13th century. Its parishioners declined after 1883. The church finally closed in 1975. The churchyard’s headstones didn’t vanish all at once. Some were moved to St Patrick’s Cathedral. Others ended up at St Luke’s. The rest were kept by the YMCA. They were stored in Sandymount. Now they are gone. No one knows where they ended up. Some believe they may be in an architectural salvage yard.
More than just headstones disappeared. In 1980-81 the site was excavated. A mechanical excavator was used. Over five months 1200 burials were removed. They were re-interred at St Luke’s Crypt. It wasn’t over yet. In 2002 more remains were discovered. The YMCA arranged for their re-interment. This time it was at Mount St Jerome’s Cemetery. A burial plot was supposed to be bought. A headstone promised but to this day nothing has happened.
St Peter’s Cemetery is more than just the mystery of missing headstones and scattered remains. It reflects Dublin’s shifting population. It’s a reflection of changing religious practices. It’s a testament to the loss of a historic site. Yet it also hints at a future. The remains at Mount St Jerome await a memorial. A final resting place that has yet to materialize. The story of St Peter’s Cemetery continues to unfold. It is a story of loss yet also a story of hope. The search for the headstones continues. Perhaps one day the full story will be told.