MY FIRST VISIT SINCE APRIL 2022
MOUNT ST LAWRENCE IS AN INTERESTING CEMETERY [MY FIRST VISIT SINCE APRIL 2022 AND I GOT LOST]
Today marked my return to Mount Saint Lawrence Cemetery, a place of significant historical importance in Limerick. My last visit was in April 2022. I decided to travel by bus and, after enquiring at my hotel's reception, was advised to take either the 303 or 304 route, which I understood to both serve the cemetery. She actually meant that she was not sure which of the two stopped at the cemetery.
My initial attempt on the 303 bus proved circuitous. The route took me through unfamiliar parts of the city. Fellow passengers, noting my apparent confusion, kindly suggested I remain on the bus as it would soon reach its terminus before returning to the city centre. Upon my return, the dismal weather nearly dissuaded me from visiting the cemetery altogether. However, about an hour later, the rain abated. As luck would have it, a 304 bus arrived just as I was passing a bus stop, prompting me to seize the opportunity and head to the cemetery.
Mount Saint Lawrence Cemetery, officially opened in 1849, rapidly became Limerick City's primary burial ground. Its establishment was a direct response to the dire need for more burial space, particularly in the wake of the cholera epidemics of the 1830s and the devastating Great Famine in the 1840s, which had severely overcrowded older churchyards. Designed as a large, purpose-built burial ground, akin to a park, it was initially managed by the Catholic Diocese of Limerick. Management transitioned to Limerick Corporation (now Limerick City and County Council) in 1979. With an estimated 70,000 interments, its sheer capacity is notable. Historically, prominent families often secured burial plots along the central pathways, signifying the social standing associated with being laid to rest within its expansive grounds.
Given the inclement weather, I opted to use my new Fujifilm GFX100RF camera. My reasoning was its portability, weatherproofing, and discreet profile. In retrospect, this may not have been the optimal choice, and I now feel my Sony A7RV would have performed considerably better. The Fujifilm GFX100RF, particularly with an f/4 lens and lacking in-body image stabilisation (IBIS), struggles in low-light conditions. Consequently, while the images were usable, they often lacked sharpness and precise focus.
Camera Choice: Fujifilm GFX100RF vs. Sony A7RV
My experience highlights a crucial aspect of camera selection: matching the tool to the specific shooting conditions.
The Fujifilm GFX100RF is a medium format mirrorless camera. Its key advantages typically include:
Exceptional Image Quality (Resolution and Tonal Gradation): The larger sensor of a medium format camera captures significantly more detail and offers superior dynamic range and colour depth, especially in good lighting. This makes it ideal for landscapes, studio work, and fine art photography where maximum detail is paramount.
Tactile Controls and Ergonomics: Fujifilm cameras are often praised for their intuitive, retro-inspired physical controls, which many photographers find enjoyable to use.
Built-in Weather Sealing: As already noted, its weather resistance is a significant advantage when shooting in challenging conditions.
However, its drawbacks, particularly relevant to my situation, include:
Low Light Performance: While a larger sensor can theoretically gather more light, the overall system, including the lens's maximum aperture (f/4 in your case), plays a crucial role. Medium format systems often have slower lenses (larger f-numbers) due to the physics of creating optics for such large sensors. Without IBIS, camera shake becomes more pronounced at slower shutter speeds needed in low light.
Autofocus Speed and Accuracy: While improving, medium format cameras generally do not match the blistering autofocus speeds and tracking capabilities of top-tier full-frame cameras, especially in challenging light.
Cost and System Size/Weight (relative to other mirrorless systems): Although the RF version aims for portability within medium format, the lenses can still be substantial.
The Sony A7RV, on the other hand, is a high-resolution full-frame mirrorless camera. Its strengths, which would have benefited me, include:
Superior Low Light Performance: Full-frame sensors, combined with typically faster (smaller f-number) lenses and excellent high-ISO capabilities, excel in dim conditions.
Highly Effective In-Body Image Stabilisation (IBIS): The A7RV's IBIS is renowned, offering significant compensation for camera shake, allowing for sharper handheld shots at slower shutter speeds. This would have directly addressed your issue with unsharp images due to low light and potential camera movement.
Advanced Autofocus System: Sony's A7R series cameras feature highly sophisticated autofocus systems with advanced subject tracking, making it easier to acquire and maintain focus, even in difficult lighting.
Extensive Lens Ecosystem: Sony's E-mount has a vast array of lenses, including many fast-aperture options.
Conclusion on Camera Choice: For a low-light, handheld scenario, especially one where quick, decisive focus and shake reduction are paramount, the Sony A7RV would almost certainly have been the superior choice. The Fujifilm GFX100RF, while an excellent camera, is best suited for situations where its strengths (ultimate resolution, controlled studio environments, landscapes with tripod use) can be fully leveraged. My experience underscores the importance of considering lens aperture and stabilisation alongside sensor size when predicting low-light performance.
A staff member at the hotel suggested that it was not a good idea to visit the area where the cemetery is located alone.
Safety in Mount Saint Lawrence Cemetery: Investigating Anti-Social Issues
Research into Mount Saint Lawrence Cemetery and the broader Limerick area reveals the following:
Reports of Anti-Social Behaviour: There have been reports of anti-social behaviour in Limerick city, and specifically within Mount Saint Lawrence Cemetery. News articles from the Limerick Post and other local media mention concerns raised by councillors and residents regarding the "disgraceful state" of parts of the cemetery (e.g., the chapel) and the potential for it to attract anti-social behaviour. There have also been past incidents of vandalism reported. More generally, Limerick has faced issues with anti-social behaviour in various parts of the city, with calls for increased Garda (police) presence. A SIPTU (union) report from June 2025 specifically mentions "increased levels of anti-social behaviour on the Route 303 service in Limerick," including stone throwing and verbal abuse, which aligns with my experience.
Today marked my return to Mount Saint Lawrence Cemetery, a place of significant historical importance in Limerick. My last visit was in April 2022. I decided to travel by bus and, after enquiring at my hotel's reception, was advised to take either the 303 or 304 route, which I understood to both serve the cemetery. She actually meant that she was not sure which of the two stopped at the cemetery.
My initial attempt on the 303 bus proved circuitous. The route took me through unfamiliar parts of the city. Fellow passengers, noting my apparent confusion, kindly suggested I remain on the bus as it would soon reach its terminus before returning to the city centre. Upon my return, the dismal weather nearly dissuaded me from visiting the cemetery altogether. However, about an hour later, the rain abated. As luck would have it, a 304 bus arrived just as I was passing a bus stop, prompting me to seize the opportunity and head to the cemetery.
Mount Saint Lawrence Cemetery, officially opened in 1849, rapidly became Limerick City's primary burial ground. Its establishment was a direct response to the dire need for more burial space, particularly in the wake of the cholera epidemics of the 1830s and the devastating Great Famine in the 1840s, which had severely overcrowded older churchyards. Designed as a large, purpose-built burial ground, akin to a park, it was initially managed by the Catholic Diocese of Limerick. Management transitioned to Limerick Corporation (now Limerick City and County Council) in 1979. With an estimated 70,000 interments, its sheer capacity is notable. Historically, prominent families often secured burial plots along the central pathways, signifying the social standing associated with being laid to rest within its expansive grounds.
Given the inclement weather, I opted to use my new Fujifilm GFX100RF camera. My reasoning was its portability, weatherproofing, and discreet profile. In retrospect, this may not have been the optimal choice, and I now feel my Sony A7RV would have performed considerably better. The Fujifilm GFX100RF, particularly with an f/4 lens and lacking in-body image stabilisation (IBIS), struggles in low-light conditions. Consequently, while the images were usable, they often lacked sharpness and precise focus.
Camera Choice: Fujifilm GFX100RF vs. Sony A7RV
My experience highlights a crucial aspect of camera selection: matching the tool to the specific shooting conditions.
The Fujifilm GFX100RF is a medium format mirrorless camera. Its key advantages typically include:
Exceptional Image Quality (Resolution and Tonal Gradation): The larger sensor of a medium format camera captures significantly more detail and offers superior dynamic range and colour depth, especially in good lighting. This makes it ideal for landscapes, studio work, and fine art photography where maximum detail is paramount.
Tactile Controls and Ergonomics: Fujifilm cameras are often praised for their intuitive, retro-inspired physical controls, which many photographers find enjoyable to use.
Built-in Weather Sealing: As already noted, its weather resistance is a significant advantage when shooting in challenging conditions.
However, its drawbacks, particularly relevant to my situation, include:
Low Light Performance: While a larger sensor can theoretically gather more light, the overall system, including the lens's maximum aperture (f/4 in your case), plays a crucial role. Medium format systems often have slower lenses (larger f-numbers) due to the physics of creating optics for such large sensors. Without IBIS, camera shake becomes more pronounced at slower shutter speeds needed in low light.
Autofocus Speed and Accuracy: While improving, medium format cameras generally do not match the blistering autofocus speeds and tracking capabilities of top-tier full-frame cameras, especially in challenging light.
Cost and System Size/Weight (relative to other mirrorless systems): Although the RF version aims for portability within medium format, the lenses can still be substantial.
The Sony A7RV, on the other hand, is a high-resolution full-frame mirrorless camera. Its strengths, which would have benefited me, include:
Superior Low Light Performance: Full-frame sensors, combined with typically faster (smaller f-number) lenses and excellent high-ISO capabilities, excel in dim conditions.
Highly Effective In-Body Image Stabilisation (IBIS): The A7RV's IBIS is renowned, offering significant compensation for camera shake, allowing for sharper handheld shots at slower shutter speeds. This would have directly addressed your issue with unsharp images due to low light and potential camera movement.
Advanced Autofocus System: Sony's A7R series cameras feature highly sophisticated autofocus systems with advanced subject tracking, making it easier to acquire and maintain focus, even in difficult lighting.
Extensive Lens Ecosystem: Sony's E-mount has a vast array of lenses, including many fast-aperture options.
Conclusion on Camera Choice: For a low-light, handheld scenario, especially one where quick, decisive focus and shake reduction are paramount, the Sony A7RV would almost certainly have been the superior choice. The Fujifilm GFX100RF, while an excellent camera, is best suited for situations where its strengths (ultimate resolution, controlled studio environments, landscapes with tripod use) can be fully leveraged. My experience underscores the importance of considering lens aperture and stabilisation alongside sensor size when predicting low-light performance.
A staff member at the hotel suggested that it was not a good idea to visit the area where the cemetery is located alone.
Safety in Mount Saint Lawrence Cemetery: Investigating Anti-Social Issues
Research into Mount Saint Lawrence Cemetery and the broader Limerick area reveals the following:
Reports of Anti-Social Behaviour: There have been reports of anti-social behaviour in Limerick city, and specifically within Mount Saint Lawrence Cemetery. News articles from the Limerick Post and other local media mention concerns raised by councillors and residents regarding the "disgraceful state" of parts of the cemetery (e.g., the chapel) and the potential for it to attract anti-social behaviour. There have also been past incidents of vandalism reported. More generally, Limerick has faced issues with anti-social behaviour in various parts of the city, with calls for increased Garda (police) presence. A SIPTU (union) report from June 2025 specifically mentions "increased levels of anti-social behaviour on the Route 303 service in Limerick," including stone throwing and verbal abuse, which aligns with my experience.