Little information exists about Anthony Donlevy, a gentleman from Co Sligo, who drew his last breath nearly two centuries ago in Dublin. Archaeologists stumbled upon his tombstone during an excavation between 2015 and 2016 for a designated Luas track route, located amidst the Grangegorman and Broadstone stops related to the Luas Cross City scheme.
The gravestone encapsulates an emotional epitaph stating: “Here lies the earthly remains of Anthony Donlevy who drew his last breath on 28th July 1832. This humble tribute is erected to his memory by his loving wife, Jane Donlevy.”
Alongside Donlevy’s tombstone, the mortal remains of 1,617 people were unearthed. Even less insight exists about these souls, who were victims of the cholera pandemic of 1832, a lethal outbreak claiming over 22,000 Irish lives.
Rubicon Heritage Services, an archaeological firm, postulates that the deceased were laid to rest near the erstwhile Richmond Female Penitentiary in Grangegorman, a facility that served as a cholera hospital amidst the outbreak. This burial ground could have been disturbed during development works for the Midland Great Western Railway’s yard at Broadstone in the 1870s; the remains were likely dug up and reburied nearby.
On a Thursday morning, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) revealed a fresh gravestone at Glasnevin Cemetery to pay homage to Mr Donlevy and roughly 16,700 other cholera victims previously buried at Grangegorman. This unveiling coincided with the reburial of those found during the Luas Cross City diggings.
A TII spokesperson stated, in a formal proclamation, that from the beginning, their aim was to accord the utmost respect to the departed. By organically burying them on sacred land, TII and Glasnevin Cemeteries Trust aspire to restore their dignity, ensure their memory remains eternal, and provide them with eternal peace.