Roselawn Cemetery


Roselawn Cemetery is a large cemetery and crematorium on the outskirts of Belfast in Northern Ireland. It opened in 1954. It is owned and operated by Belfast City Council. It is located on the Ballygowan Road.

History

Roselawn Cemetery was laid out in 1952 as a ‘lawn’ cemetery and the ground was formally consecrated in 1954. Roses were planted along the main driveway, giving the site its name. In 1961, the City of Belfast Crematorium, the first of its kind in Ireland, opened its doors, with the first cremation taking place in July 1961. Land has been added over the years, and the site has been landscaped with lakes to make it more appealing to visitors. The surface area has been estimated at a little less than 300 acres, which would make it the largest municipal cemetery in the United Kingdom.
The cemetery contains the remains of an ancient ráth or ringfort, which is believed to be from the Iron Age or early Christian period.

Notable Burials

It has been estimated that there are between 43.000 and 44.000 memorial plaques. The site contains graves connected to the Troubles, including those of police and prison officers, soldiers and victims of the Abercorn Restaurant, Oxford Street and La Mon House Hotel bombings.
The Reflections Coffee Shop is an independent business offering refreshments and catering to the cemetery and crematorium.