'It is an awful disgrace that there is cow manure on hallowed ground'

Visitors to the site of an 800-year old church and adjoining graveyard in Letterkenny are having to dodge cow manure.

The boundary wall at the Old Leck Cemetery has fallen in at various locations.

There are also fears that a tree in the grounds is on the verge of collapse.

Councillor Donal Coyle has called on Donegal County Council to carry out urgent repairs to the boundary wall and remove the tree.

“Cattle grazing in the fields around it have been able to get in,” Councillor Coyle told the January meeting of Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District.

'Urgent' measures needed on Letterkenny road 'like a racetrack'

Donegal County Council has vowed to carry out a safety assessment on the road

“It is an awful disgrace that there is cow manure on hallowed ground. It's a disgrace that people are walking around cow manure when visiting graves.

“This graveyard has been used by Catholics and Protestants and is in use – families living in the area have family graves on this site. It is a very historical site in Letterkenny and there is a holy well in the vicinity too.”

The earliest grave marker is of the Reverend D Haughey, dated 1797, while the church was built around 1500.

It was originally in use as a Catholic church but was later converted to a Church of Ireland church.

Donegal County Council say that the roads area team have 'programmed to carry out fencing works at the graveyard to prevent cattle or sheep accessing from adjacent land.”

The council said: “An assessment will also be carried out concerning the safety of the trees in the graveyard and the appropriate action will be taken where necessary.

“In addition to this funding opportunities will be sought to obtain additional funds to carry out repair works to the boundary walls.”