THE overgrown state of St Eltin’s Cemetery in Kinsale brought one distressed woman to tears, a meeting heard.

Cllr Gillian Coughlan (FF) called for overhanging trees at the Ardbrack burial ground to be cut back, at a meeting of Bandon Kinsale Municipal District.

She said branches are now overshadowing graves causing huge distress for people who have loved ones buried there.

‘We don’t even know what’s happening with the roots underneath and the curtilage of these graves are becoming green and mossy,’ said Cllr Coughlan.

‘For management going forward I would ask that these trees be cut back regularly.’

Cllr John Collins (Ind Ire) agreed and said he recently spoke to a distressed woman who goes to the cemetery to visit her loved ones.

‘She said these are sacred spaces and added that the state of the graves brought her to her knees in tears,’ said Collins, who pointed out that it’s a particular section of the graveyard which is the issue.

Cllr Alan Coleman (Ind) said he has family members at that graveyard but their graves aren’t affected by the trees.

Cllr John Michael Foley (FG), who is a funeral director, said the trees are dangerous and very high and it’s become a health and safety issue.

‘They also leave a green residue and enhanced lichen growth  on the headstones and they make the area very slippery when working there,’ he said.

‘The roots of trees underground are another major problem. Those days of trees there providing shelter are well gone and I wouldn’t be encouraging the re-planting of any trees as they encroach underground and also uplift the foundations of kerbing and headstones. They are dangerous in every which way,’ said Cllr Foley.

Cllr Ann Bambury (SD) pointed out that trees cut at the cemetery in Newcestown has made a huge difference to the place and fully supported the motion.

Cllr Marie O’Sullivan (FG) pointed out that it’s very dark too at that section of the cemetery and that the trees should definitely be cut back.

‘It’s very hard to maintain graves especially with this weather so anywhere we can assist people would be welcome,’ she said.

Bandon Kinsale Municipal District Area Services engineer Jimmy Donegan said they spent €9,000 in November 2004 trimming trees at the western end of the cemetery, which reduced the height of them.

Councillors were also told it will cost €15,000 to cut down the 56 trees in total at the cemetery but they were informed that no funding is currently in place to do this in 2026.

Senior executive engineer Richard Cahill said they will look to see what finances are available, while Cllr O’Sullivan suggested that dividends from pay parking in Kinsale could be used to help finance the work, which Cllr Coughlan supported and said it’s important to show that money going back into the community.

She also said officials should be consulting landowners next to the cemetery with regards to purchasing land as the current graveyard seems to be outgrowing its natural lifespan.