Confirmation that a main contractor has been officially appointed to undertake essential structural works at Keelogues Cemetery has been welcomed by Cllr Marie Casserly with families in the locality soon be able to visit the resting place of loved ones with no safety concerns.
Cllr Casserly noted construction works at the historic site are scheduled to commence within approximately one week.
Funding to the tune of €130,000 for Keelogues Cemetery under the Community Monuments Fund was allocated earlier this year with Cllr Casserly hailing the news at the time as, “An important step toward enabling the necessary conservation work to make the site safe, repaired, and fully accessible once again.”
As well as carrying out essential repairs to monuments, the works will also help the monuments withstand increased weathering and extreme climate events, which cause faster decay.
This was the maximum funding amount awarded to exceptional projects, as opposed to the normal maximum allocation of €100,000.
The project is anticipated to take between six and ten weeks to complete. Due to the delicate structural condition of the building, the stabilization works will be executed as a single, continuous project rather than in separate phases to ensure the highest standards of safety and preservation.
Most importantly, the successful completion of these works means that local families will finally be able to visit the graves of their loved ones safely and with complete peace of mind.
Cllr Casserly expressed her gratitude to all those involved in reaching this pivotal milestone, “I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the dedicated staff of Sligo County Council Heritage Office for their diligent work in advancing this project to the construction stage. I also want to express my deepest appreciation to the local families and the wider community for their continued patience, consideration, and support throughout this process.
“This cemetery holds immense personal and historical significance, and ensuring that families can visit their departed loved ones without safety concerns has always been the absolute priority.”
This upcoming phase builds upon a sequence of critical milestones, including the essential archaeological surveys and clearing operations conducted last year, alongside the secured funding dedicated to ensuring the historic grounds are fully stabilized and accessible to the public.
Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.