Leck site could be county’s first municipal cemetery

By Chris Ashmore

PLANS for Donegal’s first municipal cemetery – which will cater for all religions and also those of no faith – have taken a significant step forward with the news that a preferred site has been identified.

Members of Donegal Co. Council’s Climate Action and Environment Strategic Policy Committee heard this week that a site adjacent to the existing Leck Cemetery in Letterkenny has emerged as the number one choice.

With the existing cemeteries at Leck and Conwal nearing capacity, the local authority has been under pressure to find a suitable location for a new cemetery.

Earlier this year, Donegal Co. Council sought expressions of interest from landowners regarding a possible new site for a municipal cemetery that can accommodate multi-denominational and non-denominational faiths.

Four expressions of interest were received.

If agreement regarding the purchase can be reached with the landowner of the site beside the existing Leck Cemetery the project will then go to the design stage and will have to go through the planning process with public consultation.

However, the actual development and completion of the site could take a couple of years.

It is understood that the site will have a capacity of around 20 years.

The need for additional cemetery grounds in Letterkenny has become acute. In fact, in the summer, capacity issues were highlighted by local priests at the blessing of the graves at Conwal.

Meanwhile, back in 2023, at a local municipal district council meeting, Cllr. Donal Coyle claimed that by 2031 both Leck and Conwal graveyards will be full.

The issue was first raised more than a decade ago, but there has been little progress until this year.

It is envisaged that a new municipal cemetery would serve not just Letterkenny but the wider county area as it would be used by multiple and non-denominational faiths.

The documentation outlining the expression of interest process, included a section that stated that the local authority “will use its best efforts to hold confidential the proposed asking price” subject to their obligation under law, including the Freedom of Information Act.

Under Irish law, burial grounds are the responsibility of local authorities, even if they are operated by parishes or groups.

In a statement, the Council said: “This initiative is a direct response to the community’s need for accessible and inclusive burial options. The council is focused on securing a site that can adequately serve the long-term needs of all of our community who require a burial plot.

“The process involves careful evaluation of planning requirements, environmental factors, and community accessibility for each potential site. Donegal County Council is committed to keeping the public informed as discussions progress and further updates will be provided as soon as the Authority is in a position to confirm a definitive site acquisition.”