BELFAST GUIDED TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Among Stones and Stories: A 2‑Hour Walk Through Milltown Cemetery’s Republican Plots
A focused, two‑hour guided tour of Milltown Cemetery in Belfast that traces republican plots and the graves of renowned figures—useful for anyone seeking a grounded, contextual reading of the city’s modern history.
Among Stones and Stories: A 2‑Hour Walk Through Milltown Cemetery’s Republican Plots.
Milltown Cemetery has been Belfast’s graveyard for republicans, nationalists, sports figures, poets and leading politicians since 1869. Internationally known for containing the graves of Bobby Sands and other hunger strikers, the West Belfast burial ground also holds British and Polish war graves and the memorials that map much of the city’s 20th‑century history. The Milltown Cemetery Tour unpacks those layers, visiting republican plots and the resting places of cultural and political figures to tell Belfast’s contested story.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
A Burial Ground Since 1869
Milltown has served as a principal burial ground in Belfast for more than a century, containing the graves of nationalists, sports people, poets, politicians and war dead—its monuments register the city’s social and political history.
Republican Plots and Hunger Strikers
The tour focuses on the three republican plots in the West Belfast burial ground—the County Antrim Memorial, the Harbinson Plot and the newer Republican Plot—and addresses the graves of IRA volunteers and hunger strikers such as Bobby Sands.
Poets, Activists and Sports Legends
Beyond republican memorials, Milltown is the resting place of cultural figures and activists, including poet and singer Cathal O’Byrne, suffragist and trade unionist Winifred Carney, and Celtic footballer Charlie Tully—each grave a lens on Belfast’s wider story.
What the day feels like
What the Tour Feels Like
This approximately two‑hour guided visit begins and ends at the entrance gate to Milltown Cemetery and moves through the West Belfast burial ground’s republican plots and notable graves. The walk is presented as a sequence of short, focused stops—the guides present names, dates and the lives behind the stones, framing individual biographies within Belfast’s larger political and cultural history.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this tour suits—and why.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Duration is approximately 2 hours.
The tour starts and ends at the entrance gate to Milltown Cemetery.
No specific gear requirements are listed in the verified tour information.
Operated by Coiste Irish Political Tours.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the Milltown Cemetery Tour?
The tour lasts approximately 2 hours.
Where does the tour start and end?
It starts and ends at the entrance gate to Milltown Cemetery.
What sites are covered on the route?
The tour focuses on the three republican plots in the West Belfast burial ground—the County Antrim Memorial, the Harbinson Plot and the new Republican Plot—and also visits graves of notable figures such as Cathal O’Byrne, Winifred Carney and Charlie Tully.
Who operates the Milltown Cemetery Tour?
The tour is operated by Coiste Irish Political Tours.
Is the tour suitable for children and older visitors?
The tour is listed as suitable for all ages.
Why is Milltown Cemetery notable?
Milltown is internationally known for containing the graves of Bobby Sands and other hunger strikers and has served since 1869 as a burial ground for republicans, nationalists, sportspeople, poets and politicians.