Council does not have resources to take ownership of Athy cemetery
St Mary's cemetery
A COUNCIL official told a recent meeting that the local authority does not have the resources to take ownership of St Mary’s Cemetery, Athy (which is also known as the Famine Graveyard or the Pauper’s Graveyard), prompting a backlash from councillors.
At October’s meeting of Athy Municipal District, cllr Aoife Breslin proposed that Kildare County Council seeks permission from the HSE to take ownership of the cemetery.
Senior executive officer Mairead Hunt issued the council’s response, stating that the local authority ‘does not have the resources to take on the responsibility for any additional cemeteries in the county, and it is therefore advised that the cemetery should remain under the HSE’s remit’.
Speaking at the meeting, cllr Breslin noted that there was a discussion with the HSE several years ago with a view to the council taking ownership, with there having been “some sort of an agreement”.
“This graveyard was the graveyard for St Vincent’s hospital, where an awful lot of people that weren’t recorded properly were interned there who had no family, an awful lot of single parents, mothers who gave birth to children were buried in it as a Mother and Baby graveyard as well. These have become the forgotten people in many ways”.
She said that the arts service, as well as two other municipal districts, have contributed funding for a memorial for mothers and babies who were buried in the cemetery.
Cathaoirleach Mark Leigh questioned the council’s response, calling into question what resources would be needed for the council to take ownership of the cemetery. He said that a voluntary group has already been set up for the project and Tús are currently “doing a lovely job on the cemetery”.
Cllr Brian Dooley said that the councillors have a responsibility on behalf of the people of Athy to take back control of the land.
He said that currently “there’s no great dignity” in where the people are buried and that it’s a shame on society.
He said that the bigger issue is getting the HSE to hand the land over and the paperwork that would be involved, saying: “That may be what could incriminate, and (is) part of the reason they don’t want to hand it over.”
He said he does not think the council is getting the full picture from the HSE regarding the matter, saying it is “very much for them to kick the can down the road on this one. They don’t want to hand over that cemetery to ourselves”.
He added: “We’ll find the resources if required to fund it.”
Ms Hunt, a senior figure in the council’s environment department, told the meeting that her organisation “is at the pin of our collar” financing the management of cemeteries.
The council has responsibility for over 100 cemeteries but only maintains 34.
Cllr Breslin expressed dissatisfaction, describing the official’s response as “disappointing” and saying “I don’t think you’ve considered our sentiments”.
The official said that she would have a look at costings for the project.
The council executive told September’s municipal district meeting that it was investigating possible funding for a community group to lead a project aimed at paying tribute to mothers and babies buried in the cemetery and acknowledging the trauma they experienced.
Cllr Breslin had proposed ‘that the council, with other relevant agencies, advances acknowledging in an appropriate manner, the mothers and babies buried in St Mary's Cemetery, Athy’.
The cemetery served as the burial ground for Athy’s former Workhouse and is believed to contain the graves of people who died in the later County Home, including women and their children.
What is now St Vincent’s Hospital formerly functioned as the official county home for Kildare, taking in the destitute including unmarried mothers and infants.
The council said it believes a community group should lead the project and was investigating possible funding.
The district manager at the time, Annette Aspell, told a meeting in June 2023 that the HSE were happy for the council to take ownership of the cemetery.
The council had contacted the HSE earlier in 2023, when the latter organisation said it could not confirm that it actually owned the cemetery. The HSE was carrying out further searches to establish ownership.
Officials said any memorial proposal would also need to comply with council policy and receive approval from the civic memorial committee.
Ms Aspell said due diligence needed to be carried out prior to the council taking ownership or responsibility.
In 2021, the council authorised €68,000 for a memorial at St Mary’s after a motion by cllr Breslin alongside cllr Nuala Killeen.
