LIVE: Strong reaction to signage erected at Tipperary cemetery blighted by ongoing issues

There's been strong local reaction to signage erected at St Cormac's Cemetery in Cashel which has been blighted by ongoing issues prompting one councillor to issue a statement to the public. 

Cllr Liam Browne said: "In response to some posts regarding new signage that has appeared at the cemetery, and some discussion both around town and on social media, I've been asked what my position is in regards of a number of issues around St Cormac's.

"I don't want to go too deep into some things, because I've a meeting with a council Strategic Policy Committee next week, regarding potential changes to the bye laws, and I don't want to pre-empt any discussions before hand."

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Issues in the graveyard, where "monstrous" headstones are being erected under nightfall, are set to be the subject of a public meeting that will be held later this month.

Concerns about the cemetery were raised at the May meeting of the Tipperary/Cahir/Cashel Municipal District, with Cllr Roger Kennedy saying that the height of some of the headstones in the graveyard were far beyond the scale of what is allowed in Tipperary County Council's burial ground bylaws.

"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," Cllr Kennedy said.

Cllr Browne added: "These are changes I've pushed for, over the past six months.

"But what I can, and will say, is that tackling the issues at the graveyard have been a top priority from my first meeting as a councillor last year.

"My first ever motion before the council was in relation to the cemetery, and there have been other motions put in since.

"All of them were put in with the intention of making the graveyard a better, safer, more accessible, friendlier and more peaceful place for everyone that uses it.

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"Unfortunately, for whatever reason, and there are more than one, the bye laws governing the running of the cemetery were not being followed, nor have been for a number of years.

"If we can get to a situation where they are, the cemetery will be a better space for everyone using it.

"The signage erected this week won't fix the problems people have. But it's a first step, so let's give the council some acknowledgement and credit for taking that first step.

"But, as has been said by many people, unless the bye laws are enforced, the signage means nothing. I completely agree with people on that. I will not be happy, until that enforcement happens, and is universal.

"Everyone must abide by the bye laws, its that simple.

"What I can do, and will do, is to continue working on the council, and with the council, and more importantly with, and on behalf of the wider community, to make St Cormac's a place where people feel safe, feel welcome and where they can mourn the loss of their loved ones in peace and with dignity.

"If that takes time, we'll try to move as fast as we can. If it takes money to implement things like CCTV or extra maintenance staff, we'll push to ensure budgets and staff for this are made available.

"But I will not accept that it cannot be made better.

"The past is the past, but excuses are no good. We can and will do better in future."