Ireland travel update | New tours of the UK!

Menu
Drumcliffe Church and Yeats Grave Co Sligo ©Noel Kennedy - Fáilte Ireland

Drumcliffe Graveyard

View Photos

SEE THE FINAL RESTING PLACE OF POET W.B. YEATS

The cemetery of Drumcliff town is famous for being the final resting place of Irish poet William Butler Yeats. Although he wasn’t born here, Yeats’s grandfather was the parish priest for many years.

Yeats himself died in France in 1939, but his body was repatriated to Ireland to be buried in the churchyard of Drumcliffe. You can visit the modest headstone to pay your respect to Yeats, an important figure of both Irish literature and independence.

The epitaph on his grave is from his own poem “Under Ben Bulben”, about the flat-topped mountain that overlooks the valley.

‘Cast a cold Eye / On Life, on Death / Horseman, pass by!’

Along the footpath to the church, you’ll also find a high cross. It was erected around 1000 AD and depicts scenes from the Bible

It is free to roam around the graveyard. Drumcliffe Church is still an active place of worship, though, so please be respectful of the parishioners and the property. 

View North West Ireland
View fullscreen

View attractions close by Drumcliffe Graveyard

Tours including Drumcliffe Graveyard

You could experience Drumcliffe Graveyard through any one of these tours below.

Ireland
Self-drive
14 days / 13 nights
Apr - Oct

Classic Ireland at Leisure

3138EUR

Eur

View map
14 days / 13 nights
Apr - Oct
Close map view
Ireland
Best seller
Self-drive
14 days / 13 nights
Apr - Oct

Complete Ireland

3206EUR

2971EUR

Eur

View map
Best seller
14 days / 13 nights
Apr - Oct
Close map view
Scotland & Ireland
Self-drive
17 days / 16 nights
Apr - Oct

Complete Scotland & Ireland

3634GBP

Eur

View map
17 days / 16 nights
Apr - Oct
Close map view
Ireland
Best seller
Self-drive
17 days / 16 nights
4.7
Apr - Oct

Grand Tour of Ireland

3979EUR

3604EUR

Eur

View map
Best seller
17 days / 16 nights
Apr - Oct
Close map view
We are here to help

Whether you have a single question or a special request, we're here for you.

here to help