Purchase of land for new Mayo graveyards to be a 'priority'

The Chief Executive of Mayo County Council told local councillors that the acquisition of land for graveyards will be the priority of a €4.8 million graveyard fund and not the maintenance of existing graveyards.

Mayo County Council set aside €4.8 million in the 2025 Budget for additional graveyards in order to address the lack of burial space in some communities across the county with just €25,000 set aside for the maintenance of existing graveyards.

The matter was raised at the monthly meeting of Mayo County Council where Achill councillor Paul McNamara told the executive that without the goodwill of local volunteers, graveyards would be in a 'quare state' and asked what was the plan for the €4.8 million.

In response, Kevin Kelly, Chief Executive of Mayo County Council said that the priority had to be given to acquiring land for graveyards but warned the council will not be paying an inflated value for land.

“There are a number of cemeteries across the county where they are down to almost single numbers of plots that are available. We need to ensure that people are buried in their own communities .

“We are going to work on it from a priority basis and we are going to have to acquire the lands that are required at a reasonable cost. If people are looking for extraordinary money for a purchase that is going to be a bit of a barrier. I recognise that in addition to those extensions there is a deficit in maintenance works and the likes of paths. We will look at that but the priority has to be about ensuring the availability of plots and ensuring people can be buried in their own community,” he said.

Cllr McNamara told the meeting that since the €4.8 million fund was announced in the annual budget, he has been approached by graveyard committees seeking funds for maintenance work. He explained that only for councillors allocating money from their GMA fund and the work of volunteers there would be no maintenance done on graveyards.

“We provide money out of our GMA funding which is the only money available to them in our constituency and the graveyards are starved of funding. But for voluntary contributions in communities and voluntary work our graveyards would be in a quare state.

“If you think the GMA funding is going to keep the service it is not and it is only the goodwill of the councillors that they give their GMA funding to the graveyards. I think there should be a long term plan put in place for extra burial ground going forward.

“It needs to be looked at thoroughly and a lot more money needs to be made available.The footpaths in a lot of graveyards need upgrading and they cannot get it done. I urge that more money be put into the graveyards and a lot more thought on how this €4.8 million is going to be spent,” he said.

The Fianna Fáil councillor also pointed out that the cost of a plot of grave in Mayo has increased to €1,200 and questioned where that money is being spent. He also outlined that to extend a number of graveyards in his area will mean going onto commonage and Special Areas of Conservation.

He was supported by Erris councillor Gerry Coyle who said that for the work of the people on Rural Social Schemes, the graveyards would be full of bushes and weeds. Independent Castlebar-based councillor Harry Barrett said the situation in both Islandeady and Glenisland cemeteries was at 'crisis point' and there was a lot of anxiety in both communities regarding their future.

Mr Kelly explained that the increase in the cost of the plot is the first since 2011 and fees make up 53.5 percent of the current expenditure costs of graveyards. He added that Director of Services, John Condon and his team were working on a plan for the county's graveyards but again stressed that the main priority for acquiring land for future graveyards and extensions.