Clean-up of Ballynew Cemetery welcomed

THREE years ago The Connaught Telegraph highlighted that a small overgrown graveyard on the outskirts of Castlebar was a ‘proper eyesore’, writes Tom Gillespie.

Back then, Councillor Al McDonnell, the longest serving member of Mayo County Council, said he had been approached by several people over the ‘terrible’ condition of Ballynew Cemetery.

The graveyard, beside the N5 Tyres outlet, is on the path of the Castlebar to Turlough greenway, which is used by hundreds of people daily.

Now, thankfully, a massive clean-up of the old burial ground has taken place and walkers and cyclists on the greenway have expressed their delight with the transformation and have complimented Mayo County Council on the initiative. As part of the work, weeds have been removed, briars cut and the boundary wall repaired.

Councillor McDonnell stated: "Out of respect for those buried there and those passing it every day the area needed to be cleaned up and should now be maintained in the future.

"Hundreds of people, both on foot and bicycles, pass there each day and many have commented on the huge difference the clean-up has made to the surrounding area."