Plans submitted for new graveyard in Tipperary

Plans have been lodged for a new graveyard in north Tipperary at Blakefield, Gurtagarry, Toomevara near Nenagh. The burial ground will be adjacent to St Joseph's Church and cemetery and will provide 93 single plots and 78 urn plots. Planning files state the area has a very low burial rate, averaging two burials per year. The Gurtagarry Community Hall and Development Association Committee would become the legal owner if permission is granted. Environmental documents address ammonia and formaldehyde impacts on groundwater quality, stating the effect on local water sources would be negligible because most homes use the Nenagh Public Water Supply and groundwater flows away from the nearest private well. The agent also states ammonia levels would be far below regulatory limits and formaldehyde impact would be low due to less frequent embalming in rural areas. A decision is expected by the end of May.

"Plans have been lodged for a new graveyard in north Tipperary. Ger Ryan, chairman of the Gurtagarry Community Hall and Development Association Committee, has applied to Tipperary County Council for permission to develop a new graveyard at Blakefield, Gurtagarry, Toomevara, near Nenagh. The new burial ground would be adjacent to St Joseph's Church and cemetery, and will hold 93 single plots, along with 78 urn plots."

"According to planning files submitted in support of the application, there is a very low burial rate in the area, with an average of two burials a year. Under the plans, the Gurtagarry Community Hall and Development Association Committee will become the legal owners of the new burial ground if planning permission is granted, planning files state."

"Documents submitted to the council say that the proposed burial ground will have a negligible impact on local water sources as most homes in the area are served by the Nenagh Public Water Supply, and that groundwater from the graveyard will flow in the opposite direction to the nearest private well. An agent acting on behalf of the development association also said that ammonia levels from an average of two burials there each year would be far less than allowed levels in current groundwater regulations."

"They also added that "the impact of formaldehyde on water quality from the proposed cemetery development would be low," as embalming occurrs less in rural areas. "The embalming of bodies occurs in between 50-80pc of burials in Ireland. It occurs less in smaller rural undertakers where facilities may not be available for embalming," the agent explained."

Read at Irish Independent