Wicklow graveyard only has ‘few years’ left of capacity as councillors push for more space

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

Wicklow County Council staff have agreed to consider looking at ways to increase capacity at St Gabriel’s Cemetery in Arklow.

Although a new columbarium wall was completed at St Gabriel’s in 2024, providing a resting place for up to 80 cremated remains, capacity for internment has been an ongoing concern, with the Arklow community and its local representatives questioning whether a new cemetery will be required to service the town’s growing population.

Councillors Pat Kennedy and Pat Fitzgerald have emphasised the pressing need to find a site for a new graveyard in the town, with the councillors estimating that there is less than five years’ worth of capacity remaining in the burial ground.

Revisiting the long-running agenda item at their January monthly meeting, Fitzgerald and Kennedy implored district staff to begin searching for suitable locations, with the latter noting the increase in population on the back of a wave of development created by the Arklow Wastewater Treatment Plant.

“I’ve been at this a lifetime,” Cllr Fitzgerald commented.

“I was on the cemetery committee there for years, and I go there regularly, because a lot of my family are buried there.”

“It’s a serious matter that needs to be looked at.” he continued.

“Space is running out and land needs to be bought for expansion.

“Litter is strewn everywhere. I brought the issue up in 2014, not a dickie bird is being done about it.

“People are worried they may not be able to have a grave - not everyone wants to be cremated.

“Obviously, when the wastewater treatment plant comes in, there will be more people coming into Arklow, and there will be a bigger demand for burial plots.

“So, it is important that we make use of the land, and that there is plenty of space for people to be interred.”

Echoing those sentiments Cllr Kennedy said it was important that council officials rise to meet the growing demand for plots.

“St Gabriel's is filling up very quickly. You used to be able to reserve spaces there, but it’s becoming increasing difficult to reserve a space.

“I'd urge the council to see what land in their ownership could be used to expand the cemetery. We’ll have no plots left in a few years.

“Money and land will have to be found because it’s a very important and very delicate issue for many people.”

In response district manager Leonora Earls said she would ask the council’s environmental office, who deal with general queries about cemeteries, to review the issue.