Laois residents can be buried in their own back garden, council meeting told

A council meeting was told people can apply to be buried in their back garden if they so wish. 

The issue arose when Independent Cllr Aisling Moran asked if the council would provide columbarium walls and grave plots in unconsecrated grounds. 

She asked in a motion: “That Laois County Council put in Columbarium walls in all graveyards in our Municipal District and  make it available to purchase niches in the Columbarium walls and grave plots before a person  dies so they can have their affairs in order. Also, to consider a non-denominational Columbarium  wall in un-consecrated ground for those that are not from a catholic background.”

In a written response, Senior Executive Officer, Georgina Ireland, stated that:  “In order to facilitate the management of the capacity in burial grounds which are operated by Laois County Council,  it has been a long-standing position that plots and niches are allocated following a bereavement. This overall policy approach allows for better planning for future needs.

Proposals for future installation of columbariums in local authority managed cemeteries in Laois will be considered in line with demand for same and subject to budgetary constraints within the Council’s Capital Programme.” 

Cllr Moran was told niches in columbarium walls and grave plots can’t be purchased prior to the death of an individual in council run cemeteries. 

“Are the council responsible for providing a burial space for people of all denominations?” Cllr Moran then asked. 

Fianna Fail Cllr Paschal McEvoy told her that Muslims are catered for in the cemetery in Portlaoise. “I would say the graveyard is for people who are dead. I am not being smart,” he remarked.

“I don’t want to be buried in a Catholic graveyard,” said Cllr Moran, who asked, “should we not be providing a place for everybody?”  

Cllr Moran said she wanted to know where in Laois a person could be buried if they didn’t want to be buried in consecrated ground. 

Independent Cllr Aidan Mullins asked why someone who was dead would care.  

Cllr McEvoy said “you can apply to the council to be buried in your own back garden if you want to.” He said he was aware of one such case. 

Cllr McEvoy said the columbarium walls “are seriously expensive”. 

Cllr Moran insisted there was a demand. She estimated that in “the last eight or ten funerals I went to, over half of them were cremated.” 

The issue was discussed during the February meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District.