Kerry County Council close to securing deal for Killarney burials
The disclosure of a likely new deal to cater for long-term burial needs was made yesterday by senior manager, John Breen.
Negotiations to purchase a privately owned cemetery in Aghadoe, located outside the town, had recently fallen through.
The council, which has ringfenced €500,000 for land purchase, withdrew from negotiations in Aghadoe after the owner reportedly issued a 14-day ultimatum to finalise a deal.
The land currently being pursued is in the Knockeenduve area, about 3km from the town centre.
Burial space has practically run out in all public cemeteries in Killarney, but 100 plots have recently been created in the Aghadoe public cemetery.
A new cemetery would be subject to a Part 8 planning process, of which public consultation is an intrinsic element.
Mr Breen, speaking at a meeting of Killarney Municipal Authority, said the council is examining a number of options and that a possible land swap with the National Park and Wildlife Service had “not been taken off the table”.
Most councillors welcomed the possibility of acquiring land at Knockeenduve.
Cllr Brendan Cronin (Ind) asked that all negotiations with the private cemetery owners in Aghadoe be terminated. “I think this [Knockeenduve] is the only sensible option to pursue, which can provide a satisfactory outcome for Killarney. We must do everything possible to secure this land,” he said.
Cllr John Sheahan (FG) said it was no wonder an ultimatum had been issued as efforts to acquire the land had been ongoing for so long.
Cllr Michael Gleeson (Ind) said the need for graves was “desperately urgent” due to a shortage. He was strongly critical of the National Park and Wildlife Service, which he said had treated the council with contempt when it was approached for a land exchange.
Authority chairman John Joe Culloty said it was “disrespectful” to issue an ultimatum to the council. He felt all options should be kept open.
