Plans revealed for new multi-million euro cemetery to meet demand in busy Limerick town

PLANS for a new municipal burial ground in Abbeyfeale have been unveiled, with councillors being told the multi-million euro project will deliver modern facilities to meet the town’s long-term needs.

The two-hectare site, located approximately one kilometre north of Abbeyfeale with an entrance off the R254, is designed to provide capacity for around 1,600 burial plots. In a first for Limerick county, the cemetery will also feature a columbarium wall to hold the cremated remains of up to 316 people.

The development is set to include a tree-lined avenue, a remembrance garden, 45 car parking spaces, seven of which will be universally accessible, as well as dedicated bus and hearse access.

The car park is also expected to accommodate visitors to Limerick Greenway, which runs adjacent to the site of the proposed cemetery.

Members of the Newcastle West Municipal District has been told the preliminary cost of the project is estimated at €2.5 million, with funding expected to be sought through a capital loan.

The project will be progressed under the Part VIII planning process, which will involve a period of public consultation before it can be progressed.

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During the briefing, Carmel Lynch, senior executive engineer for the area, also noted there is an ongoing "dispute" regarding the precise number of remaining spaces at the existing 'Reilig Íde Naofa' cemetery in Abbeyfeale. She said there has yet to be agreement on the exact figure for full capacity.

However, noting the comments of local councillors, she accepted it is approaching capacity and that there is a need to develop the new cemetery.  Ms Lynch also noted there are concerns about drainage at the site but that these will be addressed during the design stage.

Once complete, the new cemetery is expected to provide adequate burial provision well into the future, while also providing more diverse and inclusive facilities in Abbeyfeale.

Ms Lynch told local councillors the project will be "progressed in phases" and that she expects tenders will be sought from contractors in "late 2026".