Why are residents in Castletownroche, County Cork refusing to use a new cemetery?
Residents in the north Cork village of Castletownroche are refusing to use a new graveyard. Since it was laid out as a cemetery in 1995, just one person been buried in the Killishane plot.
Some of the problems associated with the new cemetery are logistical. It is too far outside the outside the village and it is not on a main road. The access road to Killishane is prone to flooding and this deters people from going there.
However before the Killishane plot opened, people traditionally travelled three miles to the Ballyhooly graveyard. Councillor Carey Joyce explains Castletownroche and Ballyhooly are in the one parish. The Killishane plot lies in the Killavullen parish. He believes the main reason why Castletownroche people will not use the new cemetery is,
Strong community spirit, and the tradition of burying in their own parish particularly.
The Ballyhooly graveyard is full. Myrtle Forde feels it is a great pity that people cannot be buried in the same place as their ancestors,
If they want to be buried here in Castletownroach then they are disappointed.
Jim Hogan understands the issue may seem trivial for city people used to travelling miles to graveyards but it is a different matter for rural people. He is confident,
If another site could be got available within the parish, that everybody could be happy.
A 'Nationwide' report broadcast on 28 June 1996. The reporter is Donna O’Sullivan.
