Ward: Cemetery and Archaeological Traces

Ward offers a historical focus with several local points of interest: The Ward Cemetery, archaeological traces and the Ward Lower Church Well provide tangible links to the area's history.

The Ward Cemetery: Wall, Foundations and Gravestone

The Ward Cemetery is surrounded by a limestone wall. At its centre are the foundations of an old church. The oldest gravestone recorded in the cemetery dates from 1720. The structural centre of the cemetery and a specifically dated gravestone thus stand side by side as distinct clues to its history.

The cemetery sits higher than the surrounding land; this location could indicate a very long history of use as a burial ground. Alongside the wall, church foundations and gravestone, its position in the landscape also contributes to the picture of this burial site.

Further Local Historical Connections

The Ward Lower Church Well is a holy well in a field beside the Ward Lower Church. The archaeological picture of The Ward also includes Kilshane Moat, classified as a possible motte, and Newpark, an earthwork with an enclosure. These names represent different historical connections: a holy well, a possible motte and an earthwork.

Fingal County Council is responsible for the cemetery and its burial records. The Ward Cemetery is 13 km from Dublin, on the road leading east from Mulhuddart, just before it meets the road running northwest out of Fingal towards Ashbourne. The details about responsibility and road location complement the area's historical points of interest with practical directions.

County Fingal as the Wider Setting

As a wider travel destination, County Fingal offers a broader landscape setting. Its 88-kilometre coastline stretches from Sutton to Balbriggan. It includes three protected estuaries, salt marshes and 13 larger beaches. The coast and the cemetery's history represent different points of interest that you can take into account when planning your stay.

The beaches also vary considerably: Velvet Strand in Portmarnock is a 5-kilometre-long sandy beach. Balcarrick Beach in Donabate stretches for 3.4 kilometres and features sand, dunes and rock pools. Skerries South Strand is 2 kilometres long and has a promenade and coastal path. The comparison shows the variety of coastal landscapes in County Fingal—from sandy beaches to dunes and rock pools, as well as a promenade and path by the shore.

For a more active focus, County Fingal also offers the cliff paths of Howth. The Howth Cliff Path comprises four loop walks ranging from 6 to 10 kilometres. The Howth Cliff Path Loop starts at Howth DART station, follows the cliffs to “The Summit” and returns via a path running parallel to the outward route. The cliff paths offer views of Ireland’s Eye and Lambay Island. The cliffs along the marked routes are important bird habitats; grey seals can also be spotted there.

When choosing a holiday rental, it helps to decide what you want to focus on: would you like Ward and its historical points of interest to be at the centre of your stay, or would you also like to include the coastal landscape and paths in the wider destination of County Fingal? This allows you to choose a base that suits your travel interests.

Discover More Destinations

Cloghran, Swords, Ballyboughal, Howth, Gormanston, Castleknock, Garristown, Blanchardstown

For the wider travel overview: County Fingal.