Bad behaviour at St Mary’s is making families rethink their burial plans

ANTISOCIAL behaviour at St Mary’s Cemetery in Carlow has forced some locals to rethink where they will be buried, fearing they could never be allowed to ‘rest in peace’ there.

For months, the beloved town cemetery has been at the centre of reports of late-night parties, loud music, drinking and intimidation, creating anger, fear and resentment among the hundreds of families who visit St Mary’s.

“People who have lived in Carlow all their lives are saying they will not be buried there,” stated cllr Ken Murnane. “Three or four families have approached me in the last two months saying they are not going to be buried there. They’re thinking it would be safer to go out to some cemetery out the country, where their families are able to relax – that’s how bad St Mary’s Cemetery is becoming,” he insisted.

At a recent meeting of Carlow Municipal District, several councillors spoke passionately about the need for urgent action.

“I’m getting phone calls about rap music blaring in the middle of the day, the smell of cannabis is unbelievable. People are ringing the gardaí, but they are just not getting through,” insisted cllr Paul Doogue.

Carlow County Council took the controversial decision last year to lock the cemetery gates at night in an effort to curb incidents of antisocial behaviour.

“Cameras need to be installed there, and the by-laws are not being enforced. The gates are not being closed at night, whatever crowd you have looking after them,” said cllr Doogue to council officials at the meeting.

Director of services Kieran Cullinane confirmed that a contract is in place for the gates at St Mary’s Cemetery to be locked nightly; however, he revealed that there have been occasions where the locks on the gates have been cut and vandalised.

“We have agreed with the gardaí that CCTV will be installed in the cemetery, which would feed back to Carlow Garda Station. That is the plan, and it is our intention to have that installed as soon as possible,” said Mr Cullinane.

Cllr Fergal Browne, who had raised the issue of St Mary’s, called for the cemetery’s by-laws to be reviewed, insisting that, as they stand, they are “out of kilter with the realities of life”.

Like other councillors, he also suggested that currently the gates are not always being locked at night. “The logical thing would be to lock the gates at night and then open them in the morning,” he said.