More walls for ashes planned at cemetery sites across Limerick

THE NUMBER of Columbarium Walls - which provide a space for ashes of the deceased - are to be increased in cemeteries across Limerick.

The news emerged at this month’s local authority meeting where Fine Gael’s Sarah Kiely urged officials to speed up providing this facility in graveyards across the city and county.

Preliminary designs have been approved for these walls at both the Kilmurry Graveyard and Mount St Lawrence.

“Both of these projects will be progressed further this year,” the council added. “Council is also considering Columbarium Walls in cemeteries where there is limited capacity for burials.”

Councillor Kiely’s motion sought the inclusion of Columbarium structures in council-owned burial grounds. She pointed to figures showing the number of people choosing to be cremated is on the rise.

“From speaking to people in Limerick, many would like the choice to use a Columbarium Wall or garden to inter their own ashes or those of a loved one. Speaking from experience, it would give great comfort to people if they can purchase a niche for ashes in Mount St Lawrence to be near family and be in the city,” the Fine Gael member said.

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“Choice is very important in all aspects of life and indeed death, planning ahead is crucial and again from previous experience, it is kindness, a gift, something that will make the pain a little easier to come to terms with if your wishes are known,” she added.

The motion was seconded by her party colleague, councillor Daniel Butler, whose own father Richard, a former council chair, was cremated.

It also earned support from councillors Conor Sheehan, Brigid Teefy and Tom Collopy. “Looking at Castlemungret as it begins to fill as a cemetery, your anxiety starts to rise. You like to be buried close to your loved ones and it’s a reasonable expectation for families to be able to do this,” said Cll Butler.