THERE are approximately 2,310 plots remaining in burial grounds in Killarney and, it is anticipated, that will be sufficient to serve the needs of the community for the next 30 years.
The vast majority are located in the new Killarney Burial Ground in Knockeendubh which was opened in July 2018 at an approximate cost of €900,000.
The cost of a single burial plot in the new graveyard is in the region of €450 and bye-laws restrict the height of monuments allowed in the lawn cemetery to a maximum of 1.2m which is just under four foot.
While headstones are permitted, no monumental works are allowed around the perimeter of graves to facilitate a continuous lawn area.
Responding to a query from Cllr Michael Gleeson, Kerry County Council said it is responsible for the management and maintenance of 157 graveyards in the county and there are seven active and six inactive cemeteries in the Killarney Municipal District.
In addition to the space available in Killarney, there are 355 remaining plots in Aglish, Ballyhar, Holy Cross Cemetery in Kilcummin has 537 plots and the Old Dooneen Graveyard extension in Kilcummin has 96 plots remaining.
Elsewhere in the municipal district, there are 190 plots available in Killaha, 214 in Listry and 1,214 in Rathmore.
An annual review of grave space capacity is carried out to determine which burial grounds are nearing capacity and the council has an ongoing land acquisition and development programme to address identified issues.
Meanwhile, work on the Columbarium wall in the new Killarney Burial Ground is nearing completion and it is expected that it will be open for interments by the end of this month.
The final resting place for those who are cremated is surrounded by a circular wall, which will be the feature in a Columbarium garden and it will have a polished granite finish with granite paving and decorative gravel.
The wall will feature 100 niches with each one capable of accommodating two standard sized urns.
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