'Scandal' - Huge bill to clean up dumping at rural Kilkenny cemetery

An annual bill of €50,000 is being paid to keep one rural Kilkenny graveyard clean and tidy — more than any other graveyard in its district, it has been revealed.

The sum paid by Kilkenny County Council was shared with councillors in the Callan Thomastown municipal district at their recent meeting.

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Area engineer Declan Murphy said there are four council-managed graveyards in the district and ‘no other graveyard is getting that much attention’.

The reason for the work is the usual grass cutting, but also what was described as the ‘scandal’ of dumping in the graveyard.
Rubbish, including broken ornaments and wilted flowers removed from graves, are being left in ‘numerous locations’ under trees and hedges in the graveyard.

Cllr Joe Lyons raised the problem saying he knew the council had ‘cleared out’ refuse from the graveyard on several occasions. “We tried signage and it didn’t work. It’s a bad habit.
“It’s scandalous,” the local councillor added.

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A suggestion was made that CCTV cameras should be placed in the area, however Director of Services, Fiona Deegan, asked councillors to wait until a current pilot scheme in six other areas has concluded before considering this, as it’s an expensive option.

In answer to a suggestion from Cllr Joe Sheridan that the graveyard committee might become involved, Cllr Lyons said they do not want to start looking after other people’s rubbish.

Most people travel to the rural graveyard by car, Cllr Lyons pointed out, and can take their own rubbish away.

Meanwhile, Cllr Lyons thanked Mr Murphy for the new path at the cemetery, which is garnering many positive comments, he said.

Enquiring about a much-needed extension of the graveyard, Cllr Lyons was told that trial holes need to be completed and a hydrologist has been appointed for expert advice.