A new city cemetery took a step forward this week as the Council submitted a planning application to develop one on a four-acre site off the Dublin Road in Renmore.

With ever-reducing space at Rahoon and the New Cemetery Bohermore, fears have been mounting that families would have to go outside the city to bury their loved ones.

Officials putting forward the proposal for a site adjacent to the Connacht Hotel have sought to avoid this – and suggest the new cemetery will provide enough space to facilitate burials for 13 years.

While there have been repeated concerns from councillors over its location on one of the city’s main arteries, engineers told a Council meeting this week that they were “not a bit concerned” that parking or traffic would be an issue.

The ‘Lawn Cemetery’ would be accessed through the same entrance as the Connacht Hotel, and backs onto Wellpark Grove.

The proposal will now go for public consultation before returning to councillors for approval in December.

In total, it would provide 2,980 plots. These are made up of 1,514 ‘traditional plots accommodating 3,028 burials; and there would be a columbarium with space for 1,466 urns.

To complete the project, a Compulsory Purchase Order is required, a process for which the Council has set aside 18 months.

Thereafter, a nine-month construction period would get underway, with the facility due to be completed by April 2026.

Cllr Declan McDonnell (Ind) said the “biggest problem” with the proposal was its location.

“How are we going to manage the effect of large funerals on the Dublin Road?

“If people start parking in Renmore, or along that road, we are going to have a huge problem,” he said.

Cllr Terry O’Flaherty (Ind) agreed and said there were concerns among residents in Wellpark Grove that people would park in their estate.

Cllr Shane Forde (FG) said he didn’t believe the site was suitable and questioned if alternative sites had been considered, while Cllr Frank Fahy (FG) sought assurances that the Dublin Road BusConnects plan would not be impacted by the proposal.

Pictured: An artist’s impression of the proposed new cemetery, with Wellpark Grove in the background, and the shared entrance with the Connacht Hotel visible in the foreground.