CREMATION services’ availability in the North West has been greatly enhanced following the official opening of Donegal’s first crematorium.
The images from the crematorium’s formal opening show exactly what families will see when they take loved ones who wished to be cremated instead of having a traditional burial.
Lily Hill Funeral Home and Crematorium received planning permission from Donegal County Council last year to build the county’s first crematorium.
Its owner Michael Morning told the Donegal News: “It is available for everyone and will save families a lot of running.
“We’re delighted with the official opening ceremony. I’d like to thank Fr Gillespie, Councillors Canning, McGarvey and Kelly for helping with the opening and thanks to everyone who attended. We have had a very positive response from everyone who has visited the premises so far and that’s all thanks to the terrific effort from everyone who was involved in the design, construction and finishing the project. Many thanks to everyone who contributed in any way.”
The crematorium in Letterkenny is the first in the county, the second in the North West region, the third in Ulster, and only the ninth in the entire country.
There is already one in each of Cavan, Clare, and Cork, plus four in Dublin, and one in Sligo.
A few private cremations have already been held at the state-of-the-art premises at Carnamuggagh in the Mountain Top area of Donegal’s largest town.
The purpose-built facility is designed to accommodate around 500 cremations a year, which will greatly reduce the impact on families that, until now, had to leave the county for cremations, according to funeral business owner Michael (54).
Lily Hill Funeral Home and Crematorium is located at Carnamuggagh in the Mountain Top area of Donegal’s largest town Letterkenny.
He said: “Hopefully, it will help families. There has been a big demand since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Local families wanted cremations but did not want to leave the county or travel so far. We are now able to provide that service.”
Michael added: “Cremation prices will be in line with other cremation services elsewhere. Cremations are cheaper than funerals.
“If you have to purchase a plot, open the ground, buy a headstone, pay all other funeral costs, that usually works out more expensive.”
Inside Lily Hill Funeral Home and Crematorium. Photo: McGowans Funeral Home
The facility’s is close to Letterkenny University Hospital and the new community hospital.
As soon as the Donegal News reported that the crematorium is to open, throngs of people arrived up to it for a look.
Michael revealed: “People are coming up for a nosey. They were calling every 10 minutes or so at one point, it seemed.
“I’ve never seen anything like it. We’re now taking bookings and it has been a very good response to the story.
“We knew there was a demand and interest in it; it’s been great. The fact that people are driving up just for a look shows the interest. We have a great facility.”
Lily Hill Funeral Home and Crematorium provided these images:
Eileen and Michael Morning at the official launch of Lily Hill.
Pauric McGarvey, Eileen and Michael Morning, Paul Canning, Donal Kelly, Fr Gillespie at the official opening of Lily Hill.
Darren Tease (son of Noel Tease-Tease Construction) and Michael Morning.
The official launch of Lily Hill Funeral Home and Crematorium.