Council warned about dangers of 140 foot trees in local cemetery

Roscommon County Council was warned last week that they will incur “huge costs” if one of the many trees in Taughmaconnell cemetery comes down on a headstone.

Independent Cllr Tony Ward claimed that some of the trees in the cemetery are “up to 140 ft high” and he called on the local authority to check all the trees in the cemetery for dry rot and decay and to remove all dangerous trees.

Speaking on a motion before the January meeting of the Athlone Municipal District of Roscommon County Council, Cllr Ward also called for the carpark and the road into the cemetery to be resurfaced, and for footpaths to be installed inside the cemetery grounds.

“This is a council-owned cemetery and it's a huge area, and I would be extremely concerned about the huge costs the council would incur if a tree fell down on a headstone – some of the trees in there are up to 140 ft high and there are a lot of them,” he said.

In addition to looking for resurfacing works and new footpaths, Cllr Ward also called on Roscommon County Council to carry out a survey on all trees in Taughmaconnell cemetery to see if they are suffering from dry rot or decay. “Any trees found to be defective should be removed immediately,” he said.

The motion was seconded by Cllr John Keogh, who said Taughmaconnell was one of the oldest cemeteries in county Roscommon, having been opened in 1914.

Independent Cllr Donal Kilduff said the issues raised by Cllr Tony Ward are common to many graveyards, and the works which need to be carried out would require capital funding as they could not be completed within existing council budgets for the upkeep of cemeteries throughout the county.

He proposed that a national scheme be devised to capital works to be carried out at what are essentially “sacred spaces” that should be looked after properly.

Cathaoirleach of the Athlone Municipal District, Cllr Emer Kelly seconded the motion. “We like to support funding for cemetery works on an annual basis, but the reality is that this funding just does not go far enough,” she added.

In supporting Cllr Kilduff's call for a national funding scheme for cemeteries, Cllr Laurence Fallon said it was both “disrespectful and dangerous” for such funding not be be available.

In response to Cllr Tony Ward's motion, Roscommon County Council stated:

“The works requested are substantial and will require significant funding and resources.

Additional funding, beyond what is currently available to the Athlone MD for graveyards, will be required to carry out these works in totality.

The cost of the works will be calculated to determine if any portion of the works required can be addressed within the currently available funding.”