Location is revealed for Mayo's first columbarium

Crossmolina Cemetery has been selected as the location for Mayo's first columbarium wall.

A columbarium consists of a wall with designated niches into which urns containing the cremated remains of loved ones can be placed.

While the news was welcomed by members of Mayo Co Council at their March meeting, Castlebar-based Cllr Michael Kilcoyne, who is a funeral director, questioned why the county town had not been selected for the initiative.

Director of Services John Condon replied that the council had land in Crossmolina so it was "just a question of buying the actual structure and installing it". 

Cllr Kilcoyne said Crossmolina was "way down the list" for cremations with the biggest volumes in Castlebar and Ballina. However, Mr Condon said the community in Crossmolina had made "a very strong case" for the columbarium.

"Assuming it works out, we will then roll it out to other towns.” 

Council chief executive Kevin Kelly said it was "reasonable" to trial the columbarium in one place before rolling it out elsewhere.

Cllr Kilcoyne retorted: “Yes, but you do it in a place where there is volume for it.” 

Cllr Ger Deere agreed with his Castlebar colleague and said there was "a real need now for a columbarium wall" in the town.

"There is no need to see does it work somewhere else. That is nonsense. Put it in the county town."

A third Castlebar councillor, Harry Barrett, added: “A columbarium should be standard in all graveyards. It is the future, is more ecologically sound and makes sense in a cost-of-living crisis.” 

Cllr Damien Ryan agreed that demand has become very significant for columbarium walls, noting: “You can put it in place section by section as demand dictates.” 

Cllr Alma Gallagher said there was no doubt columbarium walls are going to get increasingly popular and clarification from the Department of Social Protection was needed about discretionary support for burials.

“In my own area of Ballyhaunis, it costs €700 for a single graveyard plot. A lot of undertakers also feel aggrieved over the recent announcement by the council of increased burial plot costs and no consultation on this. They feel like debt collectors for the council at what is a very sensitive time.” 

Welcoming the columbarium for Crossmolina, local councillor Michael Loftus stated: “On behalf of the graveyard committee in Crossmolina, we are thrilled to be selected. The committee has won numerous awards through Mayo County Council and they initially approached me on a columbarium back in 2014. How many of us even knew what it was back then?

“But I do see that the number of people requesting it has increased dramatically since and we have to move with modern times. It is something that will be in every graveyard. It will be the future and graveyard committees deserve so much praise for all the work they do and the respect they pay to the people who have passed away.”