Grave matter putt to rest: Limerick sporting amenity to be repurposed as huge cemetery

PLANNING permission has been granted for a new cemetery on the grounds of a former pitch and putt course in Castletroy.

Monaleen Memorial Park, comprising 3,325 plots, was given the greenlight by An Comisiún Pleanála following an appeal against the decision of the local authority to grant permission.

The development - which is located close to the Monaleen Road - will also include a meditation garden with a reflection pool, memorial Columbarium plaques and 225 ash plots. 

The park will address the shortage of burial plots in the area, according to the applicant Eugene Harrington. 

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The planning application was first lodged with Limerick City and County Council in 2023 and permission was subsequently granted with conditions. However a number of local residents appealed the council’s decision to An Comisiún Pleanála. 

One person called the development a multi-million business. "The proposal is for 3,335 grave plots. At €5,000 per plot this amounts to €16,675,000,” the stated.

The observation continued: “This proposed burial ground will only cater for the wealthy 5% or 10% of the population which can afford to pay these prices.”

Another objection read: “A previous application for a burial ground in nearby lands was rejected because of traffic, nearby residences and impairment of land values. Why would this memorial park site be any different to the site previously rejected by Limerick City and County Council?”

It further added: “There are two preschools and one large primary school on Monaleen Road and traffic is currently chaotic around drop off and collection times which normally corresponds with funeral times. Where is the traffic plan to correspond with this?”

A report compiled by Mac Mahon and Hardiman engineers on behalf of another nearby resident reads: “The site of the proposed burial ground is prone to flooding, as can be seen from photos.... It is questionable therefore if the ground conditions are suitable for use as a burial ground.”

According to planning files, when this objection was put to Mr Harrington, he said the site “is a very suitable area for a cemetery” and that the sandy soil adequately deals with any excess moisture. He further added: "There's no issue really with flooding. We’ve done numerous water tests.”

A planning inspector’s report states that those who appealed the planning permission submitted “no technical evidence” to An Coimisiún “to support their case”.

Recommending that planning be granted, the inspector deemed the Ballysimon electoral area to be “in need of a new burial ground."

Following the granting of permission, Mr Harrington has indicated that construction of the burial ground will begin “as soon as possible”. 

He stated that it will add to Monaleen to have “a big green space” in the area, and that “everything was done by the book” for the Memorial Park planning application.