'It's a necessity, a service' - Councillors demand funding for extension of Laois cemetery

The need for Laois County Council to address the demand for columbarium walls in the county as cemeteries face challenges with capacity has been raised yet again by local councillors.

Cllr James Kelly brought the issue to the fore at the Borris in Ossory/Mountmellick council meeting on Wednesday, November 12. At the meeting, Cllr Kelly presented the motion that Laois County Council grant funding to Killasmeestia Tidy Towns, in partnership with Killasmeestia Graveyard Committee, in order to carry out works to provide the new extension to the cemetery as well as new columbarium walls. 

Plans were lodged with Laois County Council to extend the graveyard at Killasmeestia in order to accommodate 121 new plots as well as three columbarium walls in October last year. The planning proposal was granted by the council on a conditional basis.

In response to the motion, which was supported by Cllr John King and Cllr Conor Bergin, the council said: "Killasmeestia Graveyard is a private graveyard and under the control of the Parish. Laois County Council has no control in relation to this cemetery. Killasmeestia Graveyard Committee should apply for a cemetery grant and funding can be considered should they wish to apply."

Cllr Kelly told the council: "That's not the answer I wanted to hear." He reminded the council that this issue regarding columbarium walls and cemetery space is consistently voiced by fellow councillors and it was one of the predominant topics of discussion at the council's meeting on the 2026 budget earlier this week. 

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At that meeting, councillors called for greater funding to be made available across County Laois for columbarium walls and the creation of more space at cemeteries and graveyards. Currently, St Peter and Paul’s cemetery in Portlaoise is the only cemetery in the entire county that has a columbarium wall for cremated remains.

Pointing out the challenges faced by the committee in Killasmeestia and other private cemeteries, Cllr Kelly said: "They're private cemeteries and it's now down to volunteers to look after these cemeteries. You're out in rural areas there and it's very hard even for fundraising, so it's very important that we look after these cemeteries." 

He continued: "We have all these councillors looking for columbarium walls to be installed in cemeteries in our locality and there is only one in Portlaoise...They were very lucky that the land beside it was gifted from a farmer, William Fitzpatrick, and the business community are going to provide fencing, stone and concrete. But this is a group that needs funding."

Cllr Kelly noted that he has committed €4,000 of this year's discretionary fund towards the project, but emphasised the need for more funding as he explained one columbarium wall could cost around €18,000. He urged: "It's a necessity, a service." He reminded the council that Killasmeestia Graveyard is at capacity and "they need this to happen."

Supporting the motion, Cllr John King said: "I made a request last year for a columbarium wall in Rathdowney but I got no hearing on it. I don't see why Portlaoise should be put to the head. Portlaoise seem to get an awful lot and we're left hanging on."

Cllr King stated that columbarium walls should be installed in all towns due to the increase in population and demand; "it's a very worthwhile project."

Cllr Conor Bergin agreed, saying: "There is going to be more and more demand for this service in graveyards."

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme