'Trees in graveyards are bad news' Laois Councillor argues
Council says 'no funding' to prune back trees
A Laois Councillor has said that trees in graveyards are 'bad news', following storm damages still felt by storm Eowyn.
Independent Cllr Ollie Clooney tabled a motion that the Council prune the trees at the graveyard in Shanahoe, stating that trees in graveyards are 'bad news'.
Laois County Council has said it does not have the funding to prune trees in a local graveyard.
"We all saw the damage that was caused by Storm Eowyn. I think that trees in graveyards is bad news," Cllr Clooney said.
"We saw it in Durrow, where one tree fell in the graveyard and it knocked two walls. It fell across a roadway, and had a car been coming, they would have been doomed as well," he said.
"I think that trees need to be controlled in graveyards. They need to be pruned so that the wind won't get them when the storm comes," he said.
Laois County Council's Community and Environment Department replied that there is no funding to undertake these works.
"There are no proposed works at Shanahoe Cemetery included on the adopted MD Schedule of works for 2025," the Council replied.
"The trees will be assessed and subject to budgetary constraints, will be considered for work in 2026."
Cllr Clooney welcomed this reply, and said that he hopes these works can be carried out next year.
This motion was tabled at the June sitting of Laois County Council's Borris-in-Ossory / Mountmellick Municipal District.