Opening of new cemetery in Nenagh

The official opening and blessing of Nenagh's Lisbunny Lawn Cemetery took place recently.

Located on a 10-hectare site beside Lisbunny's two existing cemeteries, the new burial ground makes provision for an additional 500 grave spaces. It also has two columbariums with 256 niches for the storage of urns, the first facilities of this nature in the area.
The local authority has enacted bye-laws for Lisbunny Lawn Cemetery, which is to have uniform headstones throughout as opposed to headstones of irregular shapes and sizes. The new cemetery is designed for ease of maintenance and consistency in the size and layout of the headstones to facilitate easier and safer visiting to the cemetery. The grave spaces will be also be numbered.
Also including a maintenance building with a wheelchair-accessible toilet for visitors and car park for families of the deceased, Lisbunny Lawn Cemetery was provided at a cost in excess of €1 million. It is understood that there is space available at the site to considerably expand its capacity in future years. Grave spaces for the new cemetery are now available, though there is still some room in 'Lisbunny New Cemetery'.
Fr Des Hillery, Fr Ger Jones and Fr Michael Geraghty combined to bless the cemetery last Thursday along with Church of Ireland representative Audrey Clarke. Fr Hillery prayed for God's blessing on this future resting place for our brothers and sisters.
Cathaoirleach of Nenagh Municipal District Council Ger Darcy officially opened the new cemetery. He pointed out that there are now three cemeteries at Lisbunny. He traced the origins of 'Lisbunny Old Cemetery' back to 1302 when a church was recorded on the site, listed as a ruin in 1615. The first burial in the new cemetery took place in 1957.
Cllr Darcy acknowledged the input of the former members of Nenagh Town Council in acquiring land for the cemetery. He thanked all involved in delivery of the project, including RPS Consultants, contractors L & M Keating, council staff Peter Fee, John Cass and Seamus O’ Brien, and Seamus, Donncha Ryan, William Fogarty, David Brett and John Hyland. Cllr Darcy also acknowledged John Mounsey, from whom the land was acquired.
The cathaoirleach further thanked caretaker Michael Forde and Auven Melia in the Nenagh Municipal District office, and he paid tribute to the undertakers, monument sculptors and clergy for their work.
Cllr Darcy said the opening of Lisbunny Lawn Cemetery is the latest in a series of recent investments in Nenagh, including the CCTV camera system, new town park and refurbished leisure centre, gas and water infrastructure project, and the Gill's Garden development beside Nenagh Castle. He also spoke of Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan, the Visit Nenagh cycle event, the People's Picnic and upcoming Spleodar festival, and mentioned Nenagh's recent winning of a bronze medal in the Tidy Towns competition. 
“We can readily see investment in businesses, enhancements of shop fronts and other signs of improvement in the town. There is no doubt but there is a lot to be proud of in Nenagh,” Cllr Darcy said.
Minister of Environment, Community and Local Government Alan Kelly also attended the opening. He too acknowledged the work of town councillors and council executives over the years, and he thanked all involved in providing the new cemetery for generations of Nenagh people to come.
Nenagh Municipal District Manager Marcus O'Connor said the new cemetery was designed to be as in keeping as possible with the older graveyard beside it. The move away from large headstones and kerbs should make the cemetery easier for visitors to access, especially older people, he said.
Bye-laws for the control and operation of the lawn cemetery can be viewed on www.tipperarycoco.ie. A maximum of three burial spaces per person can now be purchased by contacting the Nenagh Municipal District office at 07 61 06 5000.