An upsetting issue has been highlighted regarding Waterford’s cemeteries, and the enforcement of rules regarding the presentation of graves.
It is understood that curbing and the height of headstones is, in theory, managed by strict regulations that are intended to keep all graves within a certain size and style.
While most stone masons in the City abide by these regulations and refuse to carry out work that exceeds the Council’s bye-laws, a minority are said to do whatever is requested by the customer.
With no dedicated body to enforce the regulations, a de facto situation has developed where most families are very limited in the size and style of the graves they can give their loved ones, while others can, with the right contacts, provide their family members with larger, more embellished graves.
With every family looking to honour the memory of loved ones who have passed away, this situation has caused some to feel very upset at how Waterford’s cemeteries are being managed.
The issue was raised by Sinn Féin Councillor, Jim Griffin, at the January meeting for the Metropolitan District Council.
Cllr. Griffin was keen to emphasise that he had no qualms about how people present their graves, but asked for clarity around the rules and their enforcement.
“Lots of people come to me with regards to monuments and their headstones, what they can do, what height they can be, what height they can’t be, can they put curbing around their loved ones’ graves?” Cllr. Griffin explained.
“The message we get is you can’t put curbing around graves in Kilbarry [cemetery] but yet there are curbs around the graves in Kilbarry, and certainly some of the headstones are higher than what would be the norm.
“So, I am asking, are there caretakers for the cemeteries and have the rules been expressed equally and fairly for everybody that is in the City and County, that have loved ones in the cemeteries?
“Are there rules that we have to abide to, or can we do what we want?” Cllr. Griffin continued.
“If we can that’s fine I have no hang-up on how high someone’s headstone is but if it’s good for one person it should be good for all,” he added.
In reply, Senior Engineer for Waterford Council, Paul Johnston, did seem to acknowledge the issues raised by Cllr. Griffin, and committed to having the rules re-evaluated.
“There are bye-laws, specific bye-laws in relation to Kilbarry, and in relation to cemeteries,” Mr. Johnston commented. “I suppose given the recent restructuring in the Metropolitan District we do need to revisit those bye-laws.
“There are provisions in the bye-laws that haven’t been enacted,” he said.
After the meeting, The Munster Express approached the council for further comment.
They issued the following statement: “Waterford City and County Council proposes to undertake a review of cemetery bye-laws and the approval and permission processes outlined within the current bye-laws”.
AARON KENT
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
