A bodysnatching tour & Dublinia family tour – Sunday’s events at Dublin History Festival

A bodysnatching tour of Kilmainham cemetery and the forgotten Liffey ferry are among the topics covered by the Dublin festival of history today.

Prior to the Anatomy Act of 1832, the only bodies that could be legally dissected by medical students and faculties were those who had been executed. But with a growing number of public and private medical schools came an increased demand for bodies. As a paupers’ cemetery, Bully’s Acre here at the Royal Hospital in particular would be badly hit by those willing to sell corpses to meet demand.

This tour looks at the methods of those desperate to steal and those determined to protect their loved ones. The tour also looks at the why alongside the how.

The festival from 27 September to 13 October features events in some of the city’s chief visitor attractions like the National Gallery, National Museum, and Dublinia.

This marks the twelfth year of the festival, showcasing over 250 free events to the public.

It aims to celebrate and promote the rich history of Dublin through activities and exhibitions.