First crematorium proposed for Laois

A CREMATORIUM has been proposed for Laois that would provide the facility for the midlands region.

Laois Co Council has agreed to consider zoning suitable land for a crematorium in the County Development Plan, following a proposal by Cllr Paddy Buggy.

“We know there are two things certain in life – tax and death,” Cllr Buggy told the county council’s December monthly meeting.

He pointed out that councillors have repeatedly called for more columbarium walls for cremated remains in cemeteries across the county, with a growing demand for the service and an expanding population. He also believed that a crematorium should be provided in the county.

Cllr Buggy said: “There are only nine crematoria in the Republic of Ireland and the nearest to us in Laois is in Newlands Cross. We could serve the whole midlands region if we had a crematorium here.” 

He added: “All of us are going to die at some stage and we have to go somewhere. Sometimes we don’t have suitable land. We should prepare for what is going to become an increasing demand.” 

Cllr Buggy proposed that Laois Co Council ‘give consideration to the zoning of suitable land for inclusion in the County Development Plan, to facilitate the development of a crematorium’.

He was supported by Fine Gael colleague Cllr John King, who commented: “Whether we like it or not, it is going to be the way forward. I’m surprised that there hasn’t been a request for a crematorium already.” 

The proposal was passed unanimously. Cllr James Kelly also spoke in favour, as he said: “Crematoria are being used more and more.” 

Cllr Kelly repeated an appeal for more columbarium walls, as SS Peter and Paul’s Cemetery in Portlaoise is still the only local authority cemetery that provides the facility for urns.

Cllr Kelly said: “Columbarium walls are going into Killasmeestia private cemetery but we need them in all our public cemeteries.” 

Meanwhile, Cllr John Joe Fennelly called for columbarium walls to be installed to serve the Abbeyleix cluster of parishes.

Cllr Fennelly made the appeal at the December meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District (MD), when he proposed a columbarium wall at the Church of the Most Holy Rosary cemetery in Abbeyleix, or at the council-run St Patrick's Cemetery on the town’s Ballyroan Road.

While the county council has responsibility only for public cemeteries, Cllr Fennelly noted that the Church of the Most Holy Rosary cemetery is “part parish and part council”, so it could be an ideal location for a columbarium wall.

Cllr Fennelly said he met with planners at the Church of the Most Holy Rosary recently, as he believed the cemetery there would be the most suitable location for a columbarium wall as it was close to the church, if there was a service or mass before a burial of ashes.

Cllr Fennelly said: “There should be one in different clusters of parishes. In that cluster of parishes, we have Abbeyleix, Ballyroan, Ballinakill, Knock, Raheen and Shanahoe, so we're covering a major cluster of six parishes there.” 

He was supported by Cllr Barry Walsh from Ballyroan, who said he had also been contacted by many locals who wanted a columbarium wall to be available in the area.

Cllr Walsh agreed that strategic locations must be selected for columbarium walls to cater for multiple parishes, given the high cost involved.

In a written response to Cllr Fennelly’s proposal, an official from the council’s community section said they are ‘currently assessing the feasibility of providing columbarium walls in selected council-managed cemeteries’.

The response added: ‘Laois Co Council will continue to examine the cost implications of further installations, within the framework of the 2026–2029 capital allocation. Only burial grounds owned and managed by Laois Co Council will be considered in this review.’ 

While he welcomed the reply, Cllr Fennelly said he wanted to ensure that the Abbeyleix group of parishes was included in next year’s capital programme.