Families forced to use tractors to carry coffins into flooded Galway graveyard
But despite a tireless fight over the past 20 years, the locals say that nothing has been done – and with each passing year, conditions on the road to the graveyard are becoming worse
Grieving families have been forced to take their loved ones on their final journey on the back of a tractor and trailer because of the dire straits of the entrance to their local cemetery.
Even attempts to construct a makeshift boardwalk over the frequently flooded roadway have fallen short – because of rising waters as soon as their work was done.
That's why the local cemetery committee at St Flannan's, the historic burial ground located on the Errislannan peninsula outside Clifden, called a public meeting on the issue in Clifden Town Hall recently.
"Losing a loved one is deeply upsetting," said St Flannan's Cemetery Committee Chairperson Johnny Conneely.
"Not being able to visit their final resting place without worrying if you can access the cemetery safely, or at all, is so distressing for the families and friends of the deceased.
"If a funeral takes place when the road is flooded there are huge concerns about accessing the cemetery for the burial.
"On numerous occasions, a tractor and trailer had to carry the deceased's remains into the cemetery because the road was inaccessible and unsafe for the hearse to drive through.
"For the mourners to access the cemetery, boardwalks had to be constructed and erected by neighbours for them to walk over the flood on the road.
"These boardwalks then have to be removed after the funeral.
"Recently a boardwalk was constructed for a funeral the day before the burial, but on fitting it the neighbours realised that the flood had become worse and they had to rush to extend the boardwalk in time so that mourners could access the cemetery safely.
"These measures are not sustainable and there are health and safety concerns about people accessing the cemetery in this manner," he added.
The dire condition of the route into the cemetery has been an ongoing issue since 2005 when the flooding of the road first became a problem.
But despite a tireless fight over the past 20 years, the locals say that nothing has been done – and with each passing year, conditions on the road to the graveyard are becoming worse.
The public meeting, which was also attended by local Cllrs Thomas Welby, Gerry King and Eileen Mannion, drew over 60 local people on the night – all of whom had a connection to the cemetery.
All three local representatives have committed to raising the community’s concerns with the County Council and also to apply for funding and work towards a solution for the necessary works to be completed.
And that offers new hope after over two decades of growing frustration where the locals feel they have been left to fend for themselves.
"It is down to the goodwill and care within the community that burials in St Flannan’s cemetery can proceed in times of high rainfall," said Mr Conneely.
"This situation is totally unacceptable, deeply distressing and upsetting for all concerned.
"As a committee and a community we aren't asking for much – just to be able to access the cemetery safely to visit our loved ones and for funerals to proceed in a safe and dignified manner.
"It is disrespectful to our loved ones buried in St Flannan's Cemetery, and for us all as a community that we have had to endure these conditions for so long and have had to fight for basic access to the cemetery.
"We will continue as a community and a committee to highlight and drive these concerns until we reach a permanent solution," he added.
Back in 2002 for a television series, comedian Billy Connolly came to St Flannan's Cemetery, looking for his great-grandfather's grave.
It was a fruitless search – but it put the Errislannan graveyard in the limelight for more positive reasons.