Columbarium wall rejected for Laois cemetery

 AN appeal for a columbarium wall to be installed in a local cemetery has been turned down by Laois County Council, due to insufficient demand.

However, councillors argue that the need for columbarium walls is growing and the council should make provision for a likely increase in demand, as more and more people choose cremation rather than burial.

St Peter and Paul’s cemetery in Portlaoise is the only cemetery in the county with a columbarium wall for cremated remains, with just eight niches sold since it opened two years ago.

At the December meeting of Borris-in-Ossory/Mountmellick Municipal District, cllr John King asked for a columbarium wall to be installed at Bealady cemetery in Rathdowney, “as requested by people in the area”. He also felt that a columbarium wall is needed at St Fintan’s Cemetery in Mountrath.

In a written reply, director of services Donal Brennan said: ‘Laois County Council monitors the demand for inurnments in the county and notes that, since niches became available in the columbarium wall at St Peter and Paul’s cemetery, Portlaoise, in 2022, a total of eight niches have been sold.’ 

Mr Brennan added: ‘Laois County Council will continue to monitor the demand for inurnments. However, it is not proposed to install a columbarium wall in Bealady cemetery or Mountrath at this time. The interment of cremated remains in conventional burial plots, which includes Bealady cemetery, is provided for in the Cemetery Bye Laws 2022.’ 

Unhappy with the response, cllr King said it was a difficult subject but many people had told him that they wanted to be cremated rather than buried after their deaths.

The Rathdowney councillor said: “I want to see this planned. The cost of a niche is €1,200 and a lot of people are looking for them now. We have different cultures and different religions now and this is something that should be considered.” 

He added that, while only eight niches have been sold in Portlaoise, cremation was going to be “the way forward” and the council would have to give people a choice when their loved ones died.

Supporting the proposal, cllr James Kelly commented: “If there was a competition for the best cemetery in Laois, I would say Bealady cemetery would win. Local people and Laois County Council have done an awful lot of work there.

“People should have a choice. If you’re from Rathdowney, you don't want to be in a columbarium in Portlaoise. It's also putting extra hardship on families, who don’t want to have to travel to Portlaoise to visit the cemetery.” 

Cllr Kelly said that columbarium walls at smaller cemeteries, such as Mountrath and Bealady, need not be as large as in Portlaoise but some spaces must be provided for inurnments.

Cllr Conor Bergin also supported the proposal, saying that all local cemeteries are under pressure for space and columbarium walls would alleviate the problem.

He said: “A total of eight niches have been sold in Portlaoise but maybe a lot of people aren’t aware that they’re there until they attend a funeral. Word spreads but it takes time. All our cemeteries are under difficulty for space. Apart from the demand, they are very effective for space as well.” 

Cllr Ollie Clooney said that columbarium walls should be provided in all the main local cemeteries. He said: “When you speak to younger people, they will tell you that they would prefer to be cremated. Times are changing and we have to deal with that.” 

While he also supported the proposal, cllr Paddy Bracken recalled that he made a similar proposal for Mountmellick last year and received the same answer from the council.

Cllr Bracken said: “It looks like Portlaoise will be the only one with a columbarium wall for now. That’s all I can take from this.”