Call to upgrade Tipperary's graveyards fall on deaf ears due to lack of funds
Cllr O'Heney also inquired, at the request of the Cullen Tidy Towns Association, that the council install a water tap on the grounds of Cullen Graveyard.
Cullen Burial Ground is one of about 200 historic burial grounds which are dispersed throughout County Tipperary and which fall within the remit of the Environment and Climate Action Section of Tipperary County Council.
However a spokesperson for the council said: 'Local communities are very involved in the care of their parish burial grounds, whether through routine maintenance, active use, or the keeping alive of tradition or memory. The historic burial ground plays an important role in the cultural life of Irish people and represents a focal point in the historical life of a parish community.
'Keeping the burial ground in good condition is important to local people as it reflects pride in their parish and is an acknowledgement of the contribution our ancestors made to the development of each parish. Many historic burial grounds are still being used on a frequent basis for interments. Cullen Burial Ground is no exception in this regard.
'The council recognises and acknowledges the contribution made by such local communities through its annual burial ground maintenance grant scheme, which is administered by each district.
'In particular, it appreciates the contribution of Cullen Tidy Towns Association to the upkeep of the burial ground located in the village. It also appreciates the genesis of the notice of motion.'
However, the implementation of the request would present a number of issues, continued management. In the interest of water conservation, it has not been the practice of the council to retrofit water taps in its suite of burial grounds throughout the county.
The provision of the requested water tap would necessitate an application to Uisce Éireann for a water connection, with the consequential payment of a connection fee and an annual consumption charge - and no provision has been made in Budget 2025 for such expenditure.
Additionally, 'the precedent created by the installation of a water tap at Cullen Burial Ground would lead to requests for similar provision at other burial grounds in the county and Councillor O'Heney will accept that this course of action would be problematic and prohibitively expensive.'
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'I regret that I cannot be more positive in my reply but I have no doubt that Councillor O'Heney, and the other elected members of Tipperary Cahir Cashel District, will understand the situation which I have outlined above.'
Independent Cllr Liam Browne asked that the footpath extending from New Inn village, adjacent to the R639 towards Cashel, on the left hand side of the road, be extended from its current position, up to the 100kmh speed limit sign. The current stone path that leads out to the speed limit was installed a few years ago, through agreement with the local tidy towns, came the reply.
'To upgrade this length of path with a suitable material would be a significant cost, however, it may be something that can be looked at in the future if adequate funding comes available.'
SF Cllr Anne Marie Ryan Shiner requested that the district upgrade the footpaths in St John's Famine Graveyard in Tipperary town. The motion was seconded by Cllr John Crosse.
The St John's Famine Graveyard Voluntary Committee have spent many years looking after the famine graveyard and now need assistance from the local authority to renovate the footpaths, said Cllr Ryan.
Cllr Ryan also asked that the local authority take in charge the famine graveyard as it is currently without official ownership since the dissolution of the former Board of Guardians. 'The committee would like it noted that they appreciate the recent efforts by Tipperary County Council to ascertain ownership status of the graveyard.'
Cllr Ryan has met with Denis Holland and other officials to take in charge the cemetery, and Mr Holland is working on progressing that. Unfortunately, the graveyard has become a short cut on the way from the hills to Tesco, increasing wear and tear on the footpaths.
The municipal district, environment department and St John's Famine Graveyard Committee are in on-going discussions to resolve all of the issues, management replied. 'As soon as a suitable funding stream is identified an application will be made for funding to address the footpaths.'
Cllr Ryan said all those funding streams have been explored and none have been suitable, and appealed to the district and environment section to fund repairs directly.
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