St Peter & Paul's Portlaoise cemetery renaming rumours quashed

Aerial view of annual mass in St Peter & Paul's cemetery, Portlaoise, owned by Laois County Council.

placeholder image — Aerial view of annual mass in St Peter & Paul's cemetery, Portlaoise, owned by Laois County Council.

'Is the cross being removed?' at Laois County Council's public cemetery

Rumours are circulating in Portlaoise that the town's cemetery is being renamed and even that the cross will be removed.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald who represents the Portlaoise Municipal District, reported such at the April meeting of Laois County Council.

She asked the council, which owns and manages St Peter & Paul's cemetery, if there was any truth in the rumours.

"There are a lot of rumours in Portlaoise about the cemetery. I just want it clarified here today. Is the name of the cemetery being changed or is the cross being removed in the cemetery?

"I don't know how many people have asked me. I want it clarified here today. And if any changes come up in the cemetery, is it the councillors here, as it is a Laois County Council cemetery, that it has to go through the councillors here?," Cllr Fitzgerald said.

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald.

The large cemetery on the Stradbally road is a multidenominational resting place, including Catholic, Church of Ireland and Muslim sections, as well as Columbarium walls for cremated remains. Last year the council announced a €60,000 footpath upgrade.

Pat Delaney is the Director of Services with responsibility for the council's cemeteries.

He rejected the rumours.

"There is no truth in any of the rumours about changing Portlaoise cemetery. It's a local authority asset, so any changing of the name would have to come through and be approved by yourselves. We've got nothing yet," Mr Delaney said.

"I just wanted it clarified, to have it confirmed or not," Cllr Fitzgerald said.