Attempt to block funding for Muslim Burial Ground in Tuam

Approval welcomed by local Muslim community

FUNDING for the first Muslim Burial Ground in Co Galway could be in jeopardy despite the development being approved by councillors earlier this month.

A new 46-plot graveyard was approved by three votes to two during the September meeting of the Tuam Municipal District. It is earmarked for a site owned by Galway County Council adjacent to the main cemetery in Tuam. If it proceeds it will be just the sixth Muslim burial ground to be developed in Ireland.

However, Cllr Donagh Killilea, who voted against the proposal, argues that using the council’s finite capital reserves to build faith-segregated infrastructure sets an unsustainable financial precedent and runs contrary to long-standing local public policy.

He plans to table a motion at the next MD meeting, directing Galway County Council to withhold any future capital funding for the development.

“While I fully respect the burial traditions of all religious groups, it is an established fact that we already have a number of dedicated, purpose-built Muslim burial grounds functioning successfully within our broader region,” stated Cllr Killilea.

“At a time when municipal capital budgets are severely strained, we cannot justify allocating local taxpayers' money to establish separate, fenced-off infrastructure inside a public municipal cemetery.

“Our public graveyards should operate on a standard, non-denominational framework where plots are allocated sequentially to the next available family, regardless of background.”

The Tuam site was chosen following consultation and meetings with members of the Muslim community. It was selected to allow the graves to face the holy land of Saudia Arabia, an important custom of burial rituals in the Muslim faith.

Councillors were briefed on the project earlier this month by Senior Executive Engineer Mike Melody ahead of their vote at the MDC meeting.

The go-ahead for the burial ground has been welcomed by Muslim representatives locally.

Closest is Ballyhaunis

“I’m so grateful that this has been approved, as it is something we have been pushing to get in the town for many years,” Kabir Ahmmed, a Muslim who has lived in the town since 2002 told The Tuam Herald.

“The Irish are among the most peaceful in Europe. I think once they see the reasons why we need our own space and that we don’t want to take away from any further graveyard developments, they will be happy for us to be there.”

Roughly 1,000 practicing Muslims are based within five kilometres of Tuam. At present they must bury their loved ones in Ballyhaunis in Co Mayo, the closest of the five Muslim Burial grounds nationwide.

Plan went to a vote

The proposal was endorsed by Council Director of Services for Tuam Michael Owens but there were mixed opinions to the plans, leading to the need for a vote at the MDC meeting in September.

Councillors Siobhán McHugh Ryan, Ollie Turner and Mary Hoade voted in favour, while Cllrs Shaun Cunniffe and Donagh Killilea voted against the plan. County Cathaoirleach Cllr Andrew Reddington and Cllr Steven McHugh both abstained.

“I want to thank Mike Melody, and everyone involved with the environment department for helping to organise the original meetings with the Muslim community that kickstarted these plans,” commented Cllr McHugh Ryan at the meeting.

“We want to be seen as an inclusive community within this MD and we have 1,000 members of the Muslim community who live in Tuam, while others come here for work too.”

However, Cllr Killilea was not in favour of the location of the new burial ground. “We spend tens of millions on the integration of all the different communities here in Ireland, yet now we want to separate the communities at death,” argued Cllr Killilea.

“The graveyard never asks what religion you are when you pass through the gates, all faiths and no faiths are welcome. I would also be worried it will be the target of anti-social behaviour and drive the growing far right campaigners to Tuam, something nobody here wants to see happen.”

Suggestions that members of the Muslim community could purchase and utilise existing plots at the graveyard were also quashed during the meeting. Mr Melody explained it is the custom of the Muslim faith not to be buried in a coffin. Current regulations mean a person buried in a coffin cannot be placed beside someone buried without a coffin.

'Segregating the dead'

“I attended a Muslim funeral in Ballyhaunis a few years ago, they have accommodated burials here due to the growing Muslim community who came to work there,” added Cllr Killilea.

“They also had a mosque in the town. Even if they get this graveyard, they don’t have a mosque in Tuam. Is there plans for them to build one of them too?

“I’m not in favour of segregating the dead. It is time we make a stand; all are welcome to use the graveyard, come take the next plot if you would like one, but they need to get with the programme. Be put in a coffin if they want to be buried in this graveyard,” remarked Cllr Killilea.