Twelve graves at a centuries-old cemetery in Co Wexford have been vandalised, with the county council warning it will cost thousands of euro to restore them.
Located close to the villages of Tagoat and Rosslare Strand, the headstones of the graves at the isolated Churchtown Graveyard had been sprayed with graffiti.
The cemetery was also littered with used spray cans and empty beer bottles.
Chairman of Wexford County Council Ger Carthy condemned the act, adding it was the first time something like this has happened.
"We're not use to this type of behaviour," said Cllr Carthy.
"If people are going to continue doing this, then I'll provide a wall for them to spray on or if they want to drink in a public space then that can be organised too but stay away from the cemetery or graveyards in general," he added.
The cemetery is no longer in use and has been taken over by Wexford County Council.
Cllr Carthy said it has been there for hundreds of years and there has never been a problem with this type of thing before.
"We don't want a situation where the graveyard has to be under lock and key," he warned.
Cllr Carthy explained that many of the headstones are marble and granite and as a result specialised contract cleaners would have to be employed to clean and restore them.
The council operates and maintains 14 open burial grounds and approximately 135 vested burial grounds throughout the county.
These range in age from several hundred years old to newly constructed plots.
Around €500,000 is allocated annually from council funds for burial ground maintenance.
