'They're swamping other people's graves,' Concerns raised in Tipperary over large gravestones

A local councillor has recently brought up the issue of gravestone measurement limits, during a recent sitting of the Tipperary/Cahir/Cashel Municipal District’s monthly meeting.

Cllr Liam Browne brought up the issue of monuments being erected in a Cashel graveyard, which are way outside what should be allowed according to the bylaws.

“I’ve received correspondence from at least two former town councillors, who are considering legal action against the council for not adhering to their own bylaws.

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Last bank holiday weekend, another huge monument went into the graveyard outside of what is allowed. There was also a case not long before, where people came down in the middle of the night and erected a monument after being told to stop erecting it.

“We have unapproved contractors going into the graveyard erecting these monuments and we can’t pretend it’s not happening anymore. I know it’s a very sensitive subject and will rile up a lot of people, but we can’t ignore it on that basis.

“We have a situation where we are quite happy to take people to court for breaching other planning laws but then pretending that this particular planning law can be ignored, because it is being ignored. What’s happening is unfortunately the monuments are getting bigger and bigger in stages, and now it’s almost a competitive thing.

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"They’re swamping other people’s graves. It’s really unfair on people who are there already, something needs to be done. We cannot continue talking about this issue and say ‘we’re considering a solution, because while we are considering a solution, the problem is getting worse. People are coming to me and saying that they will now no longer be buried in that graveyard because of this issue, and this is causing knock-on effects in other graveyards.”

Cllr Roger Kennedy said that he agreed with Cllr Browne on this issue. “It’s not fair on the ordinary people, who have a gravestone under four foot six, and the one beside it has an eight foot high monstrosity. There’s a number of those that have been put in recently. They’re just getting worse and worse. They’re breaking the law and there’s a blind eye being turned to them.”

Cathaoirleach of the district, Cllr Roger Crosse, responded that the council shares the concerns of both councillors, however there is no blind eye being turned to the issue.

Anselm McGowan, who is the District Administrator, responded to both councillors assuring them that a change is coming to help the situation.

“There is a change coming to future graves with regards to purchased plots. The issues that have arisen in the past and the enforcement of the bylaws for the cemetery are in control of the Environment section. In the future it will be dealt with by allowing those who wish to purchase plots with the intention of putting in a larger headstone, these people will be given the option of purchasing a stronger plinth. There’s a whole new set of regulations behind it, we will have a meeting with service providers to make sure there’s full clarity about this.”

Cllr John O’Heney also supported the issue and brought to the attention of the meeting that St Michael’s Graveyard in Tipperary Town also has similar issues, with some substantial sized headstones being erected on the site in recent times.