Killarney running out of burial sites

Donal Hickey

Two of the oldest cemeteries - Aghadoe and Muckross Abbey - are full, while there are only 25 plots remaining in the new cemetery, off the Tralee road.

Graves, however, are available on privately- owned land adjoining Aghadoe cemetery, but they cost much more than the council charge of €325.

Killarney undertaker Tim O’Shea said yesterday that even a few acres for a new burial ground would make a big difference to local people who wished to be buried in their native place.

Previous efforts by Kerry County Council and Killarney Town Council to obtain land in Killarney National Park for a burial ground have failed.

The escalating cost of land around Killarney is another factor working against the council, the authority responsible for providing burial grounds.

The council has been outbid on a number of occasions in its efforts to buy land for housing.

However, Killarney Town Council has decided to make a further approach to recently appointed Environment Minister Dick Roche in the hope of getting badly needed land for burials.

“This is a very serious situation,” said Cllr Michael Courtney.

“Land for a burial ground is an absolute necessity,” he added.

Town clerk Michael O’Leary said approaches had been made to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) with a view to getting land in Muckross, three miles from Killarney. He said there appeared to be a commitment from the State to make a site available about 20 years ago, but approaches had been rebuffed in recent years.

The NPWS has argued that the provision of land for a burial ground in Killarney National Park would not be consistent with the objective of managing the national park.

Requests for land in the 26,000-acre national park for other purposes, including golf courses, have also been rejected by the State, following campaigns by local environmental groups.

Local councillors are calling for further pressure to be put on Dúchas to provide land close to the town for burials.