Sir, - As part of a European network, I have begun working with groups in Spain and Italy on producing a catalogue on funerary architecture. Mount Jerome Cemetery has the finest collection of 19th-century funerary monuments in Ireland. Many of the neo-classical style monuments are re-interpreted from monuments in the famous Parisian cemetery of Pere Lachaise. We plan to publish 3,000 copies of a multilingual catalogue that will focus on 200 of the most prominent memorials in the cemeteries of Mount Jerome, San Isidro in Madrid, Staglieno in Genoa and the city cemetery in Turin. The focus of our work in Mount Jerome will be a study of 50 of the most impressive memorials in the cemetery by noted architects including John Skipton, Mulvany, Richard and William Morrison, Thomas Kirk, his son Joseph Robinson Kirk, Sandham Symes, George Papworth, Thomas Harrison and John Louch.
A list has been drawn up with information already obtained on 20 of the most impressive and varied memorials in the cemetery. Unfortunately, it has proved difficult to obtain further information relating to sculptors/stone masons responsible for the design of the remaining 30 memorials. I should be delighted to hear from readers with information concerning memorials and sculptures that date back to the 1800s which may assist us in our work.
The production of the catalogue has been generously sponsored by an EU Raphael Programme Grant. However, the community-based historical project has to cover the cost of producing black-and-white photographs, the translation of our work into Spanish and Italian, as well as the distribution of the catalogue. I would also be delighted to hear from any companies, organisations or interested individuals who would like to sponsor our work. I may be contacted at 497-7956 during office hours or at Mount Jerome Cemetery, Harold's Cross, Dublin 6W. - Yours, etc., Joe Langtry,
Project co-ordinator, Mount Jerome Historical Project, Harold's Cross, Dublin 6W.