Grave concern raised over shortened hours at Limerick cemetery
LIMERICK COUNCIL bosses say they will rethink the early closure of Castlemungret cemetery during the autumn and winter months.
As it stands, the gates to the graveyard are set to close at 4.30pm between October and March.
A local authority spokesperson said this is being done as they seek to mitigate against health and safety issues after dark, as there is no public lighting in the graveyard.
“This decision was taken to facilitate elderly people who had to cross the road when parking at Mungret GAA Clubhouse,” a spokesperson said, adding there have also been a number of instances of criminal and anti-social behaviour.
However, council added following a number of complaints, the council staff are willing to review the cemetery’s opening hours from October, which currently are slated as being between 8am and 4.30pm.
One of those who raised the issue is local Fine Gael councillor Daniel Butler.
“Up until now, people could access the cemetery by a pedestrian gate at any time to visit the grave of a loved one,” said Cllr Butler, whose own father Richie, who died in 2013, is laid to rest in Castlemungret.
He said when he shared the news of the early closure on his social media pages, there was a backlash from the public.
He pointed out that throughout the year, many people who have relatives buried in Castlemungret would work 9am to 6pm, and would be unable to visit during the restricted times.
“I understand the council's concerns and what they are hoping to achieve but it seems now in society that because of the few, the many get punished.
"So because of a couple of incidents in cemeteries we all get punished by not being able to see our loved one’s grave when we need to. Grief can hit us hard anytime and I know many people who visit graves late at night in grief as it is late at night, when our thoughts settle we most feel that grief,” the councillor said.