Plans under way for official opening of Mayo's first columbarium

Crossmolina-based Cllr Michael Loftus has welcomed the completion of Mayo's first columbarium in the town, with plans now being made for its official opening.

The new facility, located at St Tiernan's Cemetery, contains 60 niches, and it is hoped it will help meet growing demand for cremation burials, which now account for 25-30% of deaths in the county.

Cllr Loftus told a meeting of Ballina Municipal District that a date for the official opening has yet to be finalised and will need to be agreed with parish priest Fr Francis Judge and members of the local committee.

“I want to praise them for the work they have done in creating and getting the first columbarium in Mayo to Crossmolina. It will be a credit to them when it is officially opened,” he said.

At the most recent meeting of the council’s Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) on Environment and Climate Change, members were told that a space in the columbarium will cost €1,700, with an additional charge of €400 for the opening and closing of a niche and €300 for the removal of an urn. Separate charges will apply for inscriptions.

Members of the SPC were informed that the columbarium wall cost €100,000 to construct and that, with 60 niches available at €1,700 each, the project has been designed to cover its costs rather than generate a profit for the council.

The meeting also noted strong demand for columbaria across all municipal districts, with plans under consideration for two more facilities, potentially in Ballinrobe and Castlebar, within the next year.

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme