Huguenot Cemetery, Cemetery in Cork City Center, Ireland

The Huguenot Cemetery is a burial ground near French Church Street where French Protestant refugees are interred, with graves dating back to the early 18th century. The site contains headstones inscribed in both French and English, offering details about the individuals and families laid to rest here.

The cemetery was established between 1710 and 1733 to serve French Protestant refugees who fled religious persecution in their home country and sought shelter in Cork. This community grew in influence over time, with members rising to positions of importance in the city.

The Huguenot quarter stood around what is now French Church Street, where the community built a school, an almshouse and this graveyard. The name survives in the street name, and the site lies within an Architectural Conservation Area designated by Cork City Council.

The entrance is a gated opening in a rough stone wall, topped by a carved sign reading "HUGUENOT BURIAL GROUND 1733"; the black metal gate with its cross and scrollwork may be closed, so check access before planning a visit. The gravestones stand on a pebbled surface behind the gate. The cemetery lies in the city centre, near French Church Street, and was taken over by Cork City Council in 2006 and restored from 2007.

This is one of only two remaining Huguenot cemeteries in western Europe, making it a rare testament to this diaspora history. A former Lord Mayor of Cork is buried among these graves, reflecting how high some members of this French community rose in the city.