Councillor calls for access to the old famine graveyard in Delvin

Formal access to the Workhouse/Famine Graveyard in Delvin is to be explored after concerns were raised that visitors cannot access it – but that cattle are entering the burial ground and trampling graves.

Cllr David Jones told the Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District that there was currently no formal access to the graveyard. “It was in the ownership, I believe, of Westmeath County Council at some stage,” he said. “And it passed through a few hands since that.”

Cllr Jones said it was unclear why a formal access agreement had not been put in place when the surrounding land changed ownership.

“Unfortunately, there is no access to this graveyard – unless you have a helicopter,” he said, adding that the local community wanted to restore the graveyard, but were unable to carry out work because of the access issue.

Cllr Jones said he had spoken to the current landowner and suggested that Westmeath County Council could potentially purchase a small section of land leading to the graveyard.

He said the council owned two parcels of land beside the graveyard and that purchasing a short section to provide access could provide a long-term solution.

He suggested that a Community Involvement Scheme (CIS) could be used, with the agreement of the landowner, to provide a road and foot. He said the lack of access was also preventing the council from fencing the graveyard.

The graveyard was associated with the former union workhouse and contained the graves of local families, adding that one local man wanted to be buried there because some of his family members were already buried there.

Cllr Niall Gaffney supported the motion, saying he was familiar with the graveyard and surrounding lands. He said people with family members buried there had always understood that there was at least a right of way on foot or by car.

District engineer Pat Kavanagh said he was willing to meet with the landowner. Cllr Jones said access was needed so that the stone wall could be restored and fencing installed to prevent further damage to graves. He also noted that many of the graves were unmarked, as timber markers had been used at the time.