Green light for West's first eco-graveyard

By SIOBHÃÂN HOLLIMAN THE go-ahead has been given to develop the West of Ireland's first green graveyard. The proposal suffered a setback last year with a refusal of planning permission, but a fresh attempt made to establish an eco-friendly cemetery on part of the Castle Hacket House estate in Belclare has just got the thumbs-up from Galway Co Council. Ireland's first natural graveyard opened in Wexford over a year ago and the revised plans for one close to the legendary burial site of Queen Maeve on Knockma were submitted before Christmas. [private] A natural burial ground is considerably different from traditional cemeteries. There are no large headstones or stone surrounds and graves are marked with a simple, engraved stone marker and the planting of a native Irish tree. The use of biodegradable coffins and urns such as those made from willow, reeds or cardboard are encouraged, while it's preferred that embalming fluids haven't been used either. The concept of the natural cemetery is that it becomes woodland, where visitors can walk along pathways, surrounded by nature. The plans were submitted on behalf of The Green Graveyard Company, which will carry out the initial development works and manage the graveyard, however it's understood that a local operational team will have responsibility for the day-to-day operations on site. The condition of the trees in the woodland will be assessed each year. Owner of the historic Castlehackett House and Demesne, Philip Jones, is supportive of the development and views it as a way of providing funds for the long-term management and viability of the overall estate and to support the continued use of the Demesne. Colin McAteer of The Green Graveyard Company says there has been a huge interest in natural graveyards and that this has led them to plan one for the West of Ireland. The 3.78 hectare site is largely overgrown at the moment and combines a mixed broad-leaved woodland and an open agricultural grassland area close to the derelict gate lodge. The entrance to the graveyard will be via the protected east gates, which are currently rarely used and planners have attached conditions to ensure the historic material of the gates are protected. No objections No objections were made to the development and it appears that the local authority has really changed its opinion on the proposal. Last year it described it as an undesirable form of development for the rural location and the latest decision says that it can be adequately accommodated within the site without having a negative impact on Castlehackett House or its surrounds. Initially the first plots will be accommodated in a half-acre cleared area. The applicants believe there is a demand for a natural graveyard from people living in counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon and that people from the region have already been buried in the existing eco-graveyard in Wexford. The Green Graveyard Company say hundreds of people enjoy walking around the natural graveyard at Woodbrook in Co Wexford. There have been a small number of burials there, including that of sculptor Eamonn O'Doherty, best known for the Tree of Gold outside the Central Bank in Dublin, and people have reserved and bought plots there, which range in price from €800 for an individual plot up to €2,900 for a four-person plot. Natural burials are becoming increasingly popular in America, where there are numerous green graveyards, and even existing cemeteries are beginning to set aside specific green areas because of public demand. [/private]