Gardaí and the County Council have been forced to clamp down on anti-social behaviour at Rinville Cemetery where regular alcohol-fuelled parties have drawn complaints from distressed families.

The large-scale parties are regularly drawing crowds of up to 50 people consuming alcohol, shouting, singing and blaring loud music that can be heard throughout the area – and on at least four occasions since October, fireworks have been let off as part of the festivities.

The parties at the Council-owned graveyard outside Oranmore are understood to be organised by the families of some of those buried at the cemetery – celebrating birthdays, anniversaries and headstone unveilings. Videos of these events are regularly shared on social media.

The impact of these parties is scarring the surrounds in the seaside cemetery too, with rubbish being strewn around, nearby graves being trampled on and headstones being covered in dirt as a result.

According to families with loved ones in the cemetery, these shocking scenes are “intimidating” for those visiting graves.

One local, who has a close family member buried in Rinville and asked not to be named, said they chose Rinville because of the peaceful and tranquil surrounds, “but this recurring behaviour is far from peaceful.

“The only way I can describe it is that it’s like walking into a pub at 12 o’clock at night,” they said.

“Personally, I have no problem with large groups attending. Everyone has a right to visit the grave of a loved one, but when there’s alcohol being drunk and shouting, it’s intimidating – particularly for older people.

“This is happening at all hours of the day and the parties go on for a couple of hours. It’s heartbreaking that people are going up there and being forced to turn around because they’re not comfortable going in,” said the distressed local, describing how the large speaker systems playing ‘chart hits’ could be heard from the carpark.

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