It has been on the political and community agenda for quite some time but, this week, Kerry County Council confirmed that it is commencing the required Part 8 planning process for the extension of Churchtown burial ground in Beaufort.
Cllr Michael Cahill, a long-time campaigner on the issue, said there had been a great deal of worry and anxiety in Beaufort as the present facility was reaching capacity.
“It didn’t bear thinking about that the remains of deceased members of the Beaufort community would have to be interred outside of their native parish,” he said.
As part of the planning process, the public will now be invited to make their views known and observations and representations can be submitted to Kerry County Council.
“I have been making representations on behalf of the people of Beaufort on this very sensitive topic for some time now and I am glad to see my interventions bringing results,” Cllr Cahill stated.
He had arranged a meeting between the landowner with the council’s former director of services, John Breen and the local authority’s property manager, Derry O’Sullivan that led to the acquisition of the land required for the project.
“The fact that Churchtown burial ground was almost at capacity was described as the biggest issue facing the local community in Beaufort and the uncertainty caused a lot of worry, particularly to the more elderly Beaufort residents.
“I am confident this extension can now be developed to everyone’s satisfaction,” Cllr Cahill remarked.
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