Green graveyard planned near Knockma

By DAVID BURKE THEY say Queen Maeve is buried at the summit of Knockma, the legendary hill a few miles west of Tuam. Only one other burial has taken place there, that of General Denis Kirwan Bernard. But it looks as though ecologically-minded people will soon be able to choose a burial place in the shadow of the hill. The West of Ireland's first natural cemetery is planned for a section of the Castlehacket estate, just off the Tuam to Headford road, and local people will be able to find out about the project at an information meeting in Caherlistrane GAA Clubhouse on Monday evening. Ireland already has one natural graveyard, at Woodbrook in Co Wexford. It was opened on October 9, and the first burial took place soon afterwards. There have been several scatterings of ashes there, and 'a significant number' of people have already bought plots, at prices ranging from €630 plus VAT for a single grave to €2,300 for a four-place family plot. This is according to Colin McAteer of the Green Graveyard Company, which aims to manage green burial places in conjunction with landowners. The company intends to lease the land at Castlehacket from the owner, Philip Jones, and granting of planning permission will be contingent on the re-zoning of the land from agricultural to graveyard. A natural burial ground is a far cry from the traditional cemetery. There are no large headstones or stone surrounds, just simple grave markers and a wildlife haven of native woodland. Colin McAteer says: 'People often talk about where their final resting place will be. They often describe a place full of trees and flowers, a place with wildlife in abundance. They describe beautiful, unspoiled places where family and friends can visit while being surrounded by nature. All too often the traditional or conventional burial grounds in Ireland fall far short of these wishes.' Beautiful resting place He went on to say that the proposed new burial ground at Castlehacket House between the villages of Belclare and Caherlistrane, at the foot of Knockma, will provide a beautiful resting place for those interested in a green or natural burial. His company also supplies eco-coffins made from willow, bamboo, cardboard and other environmentally-friendly materials. 'Visitors will be able to walk along pathways spotting wildlife in their newly created habitats. These natural burial grounds will cater for people of all faiths and none and will allow people to use their funeral as a conservation tool, conserving, creating and sustaining new native Irish woodland,' he added. When Green Graveyards opened their first natural burial ground in Wexford in October they received a lot of contacts from people living in the west of Ireland who wanted a similar facility in this area. 'What we have found at Castlehacket is a beautiful place ideally suited to this type of project and we hope to receive a positive response from both the local people and the council. It is no secret that in many parts of Mayo and Galway there is a shortage of burial space. We hope that if this proposal gets the go ahead that this is an option that people will consider for themselves and their families.' The planning application is due to be lodged with Galway Co Council next week and the information evening in Caherlistrane on December 13 starts at 7.30 pm.