Boulders are creating huge problem for grave-diggers at Mayo cemetery
The presence of boulders is creating a huge problem for grave-diggers at Breaffy Cemetery near Castlebar.
Mayo County Council is seeking to address an issue with boulders in Breaffy Cemetery.
Huge boulders under the surface are creating difficulting in opening graves in the cemetery, a meeting of Castlebar Municipal District was previously told.
Councillors have been informed of the options being explored by the local authority. The first option is to excavate the total remaining area of the cemetery in lines in order to remove any boulders and large rocks, and backfill with the excavated soil. There is the potential that the soil would require shoring up when re-excavating individual burial plots to prevent collapse. In addition to these safety concerns of collapse of the excavations, there would be additional costs associated with the shoring equipment, along with a certain level of expertise required in its use.
The second option considered would be a requirement that all new openings would be excavated as a double plot initially, removing all boulders and large stones encountered. This may require the use of a mechanical excavator if large boulders were encountered but would address any issues with additional openings of the plot into the future. This option would add some additional cost to the initial plot opening and would also be dependent on there being space to accommodate the mechanical excavator.
The council has recommended that the first option be trialled in Breaffy. This option has already been trialled in the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District with early indications that it is working.
