Over 120 burial plots to be created in Laois as work begins on extending graveyard

Works have started on extending the graveyard at Killasmeestia in County Laois, with over 120 new plots to be created and three columbarium walls installed.

Last year, plans were approved by Laois County Council to extend the graveyard at Killasmeestia in order to accommodate 121 new plots as well as three columbarium walls.

Land was donated to the Killasmeestia Graveyard Committee for the extension by the adjoining farmer William Fitzpatrick.

Funding proved to be an issue with starting the works as Councillor James Kelly requested Laois County Council to grant funding to Killasmeestia Tidy Towns, in partnership with Killasmeestia Graveyard Committee, for the project in November.

However, Cllr Kelly confirmed that €12,000 was eventually secured from Laois County Council's 2025 budget. The Independent councillor also committed €4,000 of his own discretionary funds for the works. 

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The project finally got underway on Saturday, February 28. So far, the hedge between the new and old graveyard has been removed and a temporary fence has been erected around the new area. 

Cllr John King told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that part of the work will be to install a new boundary fence as well as footpaths to the graves. 

The Fine Gael councillor said that he has supported the project as his parents are buried at the graveyard and he went to school in the village.

He expressed his appreciation for Mr Fitzpatrick who donated the land, saying that the work could not go ahead without him.

He also thanked the Killasmeestia Graveyard Committee for taking the initiative on the project.

The works will take a number of months to complete, according to Cllr King. 

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme