Urgent action needed as Leitrim cemetery set to reach full capacity within five years

There are fewer than five years remaining before St Aidan’s Cemetery in Kinlough reaches full capacity, with urgent calls for the provision of a new cemetery.

At April’s meeting of Manorhamilton Municipal District, Cllr Justin Warnock requested that the Council provide a new cemetery for the growing town of Kinlough under the Burial Grounds Act 1925 – 1991, as the existing cemetery is nearing full capacity. He added that the community has made extensive efforts to secure a suitable piece of land.

“We’re exhausted trying to get a piece of ground. It has to be taken by the scruff of the neck by Leitrim County Council,” said Cllr Warnock. “We’ve got about three or four years left maximum in that cemetery,” he added.

He noted that when the cemetery was previously extended, the population was only a couple of hundred, whereas it is now over 1,300.

“The biggest pressure on Kinlough is families that have relocated there. When a family member dies they want to be buried here,” he said, adding that a community group has met with landowners in search of suitable land, but the land identified is not appropriate.

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His motion was seconded by Cllr Pádraig Fallon. “It’s not often this case arises but I do think it is critical infrastructure that is sometimes overlooked,” he said.

A Council response explained that the burial ground in Kinlough is operated by the Parish and not the Council. Under the Council’s Burial Ground Policy 2024 – 2030, the Council can provide grant aid of up to €25,000 to Burial Grounds Committees for new graveyards, extensions, footpaths, fencing and other works.

Director of Services Vincent Dwyer noted that the Council can engage with community groups as much as possible, but are not in a position to purchase land.

“We’re not in the position to buy land to extend the graveyard. We can support the community group with grants, technical support, help through the planning process but we’ve long moved away from buying land,” said Mr Dwyer.

“We’re happy to meet the community group but we are not in the position to buy land from private owners or dioceses to extend graveyards in the last 15 years,” he added.

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Cllr Warnock added that people in Kinlough are “exhausted” trying to find something and that time is running out.

It was agreed that the Council can meet the community group in Kinlough to provide guidance.