Donabate cemetery dating to 1800s damaged following car crash

Graves in a north Co Dublin cemetery were badly damaged after a car crashed through a roadside wall in the early hours of Sunday.

A number headstones, some dating back to the 1800s, in St Patrick’s graveyard, off the mainstreet of Donabate, were broken into pieces as a result of the incident.

A Garda spokesman said members of the force attended the scene of the single car incident on Main Street, Donabate at about 3.15am.

A woman in her 40s was taken to Beaumont Hospital to be treated for her injuries, the spokesman said.

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Corina Johnston, a Labour Party representative for the area, said the news was “devastating” for members of the local community, who were “absolutely heartbroken”. She said at least seven or eight headstones were affected.

“We understand that a car drove through the wall, and there is substantial damage to it. We don’t know yet if the headstones can be repaired,” she said.

“It’s a very historical town with a lot of heritage. The graveyard is always beautifully tended with flowers. But someone was also injured in the incident. Hopefully the person makes a full recovery.”

Peadar Bates, a local historian, said the graveyard was built in 1802, with the first burials commencing soon thereafter.

“It wasn’t in use in recent years because it became full. They built a new graveyard about a mile up the road, and that’s where people are buried now,” he said.

There were “plenty of blacksmiths” in Donabate at the time, with many of them being buried in the old graveyard.

“Anyone who was born in Donabate in the 1800s more than likely would have been buried there, with a few others being buried in Portrane. Every family who can trace their ancestors to Donabate would have a connection to that graveyard.”