Fears over graveyard works

THE keyholder of St Canice’s Graveyard in Finglas fears that works proposed by Dublin City Council may lead to a rise in anti-social behaviour and acts of vandalism at the historic cemetery.

Thomas

‘Dano’ Lynch and his family have been taking care of St Canice’s since 1966 and are concerned that new plans to install lighting will encourage vandals unless the graveyard perimeter is properly secured first.

The council is proposing to carry out improvements at St Canice’s including the placement of up-lighters to highlight the church ruin, an important historic landmark in the area.

However, the Lynch family say that the graveyard already suffers from anti-social activity and believe that installing lights will attract more trouble unless the centuries old boundary walls are declared safe and securely fenced off.

Back in 2006 the graveyard was closed to the public after graves toppled out into an old coal yard following the collapse of a boundary wall and the Lynch family aren’t convinced it’s safe.

Speaking on behalf of his father, Dano’s son Joe Lynch said:

“We don’t object to the lights, but we’re not happy with the timing.

“We have illegal dumping and sometimes illegal entry with people coming in over the wall. We don’t usually call the guards out because we can deal with it ourselves, more or less. We speak to the people and they usually leave without any hassle.

“But security of the graveyard has been a major issue over the years. We had an incident about three months ago when two teenagers put a big, gaping hole in the wall. Those walls are 600-years-old.

“I’ve asked Dublin City Council to survey the walls, rail the graveyard and then put the lights in. Putting the lights in first will lead to more anti-social behaviour and we’re strongly objecting to that. We’ve no problem with the plan, but we want the graveyard properly secured first.

“They want to highlight the church because of the new historical tours of the area but if these lights go in they won’t have anything historical left in Finglas.

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Joe, who is a member of the Finglas Village Renewal Group, said he only heard of the council’s plans at a recent public meeting in the area.

“I was angry that there was no consultation with my family or with any other families who have people buried in the graveyard,

? he told Northside People.

“Our family has maintained and secured that graveyard free of charge over the years. My father is only paid as a keyholder and a registrar.

“Our main aim is to protect that graveyard for all the families and we’re looking for local people to support us.

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The family are also concerned about a second gate that’s part of the plans as it’s located on the blind side of the cottage where they live.

The cemetery, which has burial sites dating from 1647, has repeatedly fallen victim to vandals over the years. The most serious incident involved a gang attacking headstones with hammers.

St Canice’s is the last resting place for an estimated 1,000 people, both Catholic and Protestant, with only a small number of plots remaining to be filled.

It’s also home to one of the area’s most famous historical landmarks, the Nethercross from the first abbey in Finglas, founded by St Canice, which is located in the south-east corner of the graveyard.

Dublin City Council confirmed that its Parks and Landscape Department planned to carry out improvements at St Canice’s, based on the availability of specific resources and feedback from a number of public events held in the Finglas area in 2012.

“The proposals include the removal of concrete block-work in the former northern entrance and the installation of a rail of similar design to the entrance gate on the southern side of the graveyard,

? a council spokesperson said.

“It is not proposed that this opening would provide access other than improving the visibility to the ruin from the northern side and the bridge.

The council also played down concerns about the new graveyard lighting system.

“This system is targeted and does not provide full-time general lighting throughout the graveyard,

? the spokesperson continued.

“The timing of the operation of this lighting system will be controlled by Parks and Landscape Services.

“Dublin City Council did take the concerns regarding security into account when proposing these improvements and considers that the improvement of visibility provided by the project should improve the security at the location.

“An undertaking has been given to examine the impact on the existing graveyard boundary from modifications required to strengthen this boundary and to quantify the resources required.

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