Burial space problems in Dunboyne solved
The Rooske Road graveyard in Dunboyne is to extended to include 1,200 new plots, with 500 available immediately.
The news brings an end to more than a decade of concern that Dunboyne was about to run out of burial space.
“A lot of residents were very concerned that they would not be buried within their own parish,” says Cllr Damien O'Reilly.
“It is very good news now that the Rooske Road Graveyard will be extended after ten years of concern by local residents."
A meeting of the Ratoath Municipal Council last week heard that 500 new plots will be open this week and in the long term, there will be 1,200 new plots.
The new facility will also include a Columbarium wall for 20 urns.
The extension and car-parking facilities will be open this week with 32 car-park spaces. All the fencing will be removed between the new and old sections over the course of this week and a water tap will be turned on in a few weeks when the ESB connection for pump is connected.
New lighting will be installed, and a new area for the burial of ashes will be developed.
The next stage of the work will be the construction of a service building and toilets.
At last week's meeting, Cllr O'Reilly had called on Meath County Council to begin contingency planning to extend Rooske Graveyard, row by row into the adjoining Meath County Council field in the event of any delays to the new Dunboyne graveyard project.
“I am delighted to finally see progress in the long overdue solution to burial space in Dunboyne.” he said.
“It is great news that Dunboyne parish residents will now have the option of Rooske as their final resting place.
“We were down to the last few graves in the existing cemetery and many elderly local residents of Dunboyne were afraid that they would be buried outside the parish. The people of Meath expect to be buried in their own parishes and this was very distressing for the people of Dunboyne.
“Now they can be sure of burial in Dunboyne. Contingency rows have been opened in the new facility and it will be developed to provide 1200 new burial plots.”
Cllr O'Reilly said that since entering local government, he had offered practical solutions to the council to bring this long overdue project to a conclusion.
“I believe this solution will save the county anywhere from €1 to €2 million in capital spend as opposed to other locations.
“During this timeframe, I sought evidence-based solutions from geology experts and reviewed all relevant legislation to develop a case for the extension to Rooske Graveyard Dunboyne.
“Over the last six years, this has led to some of the most heated meetings I’ve being involved in since entering politics. I would like to express by sincere thanks to Cllrs Brian Fitzgerald, Gillian Toole and Nick Killian for supporting my solutions to the Rooske Graveyard which took over hours of Municipal District meetings every month over the past number of years.”
Initial works taking place on the extension will develop two rows, which would open three to four years additional capacity.
“When works are complete, the graveyard will have a new entrance, carpark, caretaker building, access to a water supply for watering flowers and plenty of the features you see incorporated in the new graveyard at Derrockstown, Dunshaughlin,” said Cllr O'Reilly.