Attempts to have the gates of Ballyglass Cemetery left open for car access at weekends were shot down at Tuesday’s meeting of Mullingar Town Council.
Cllr Bill Collentine asked the council to consider leaving the cemetery gate open at weekends and at busy times such as over the Christmas period “to enable elderly persons to drive into the cemetery to visit the graves of loved ones”.
Cllr Glynn agreed that there is “great upset” that vehicle access is not an option at weekends, while Cllr Aidan Davitt added that people particularly like to visit the cemetery over the Christmas period.
However the council says that gates are kept closed “for security reasons”, and that pedestrian access is available at all times.
Senior executive officer Declan Leonard said leaving the gates open for certain periods would have cost implications for the council, and that there was no funding available to staff it.
“We would have to bring in someone to open and close the gates, and as it’s the weekend it would be at overtime rates. If there is a funeral the gates will be open, but generally they are not open weekends,” he said.
