Burial Grounds

According to a survey carried out by the Wicklow County Council in 1998 there are 119 burial grounds in the County, spread out over 21 parishes. These include cemeteries provided by the Council in pursuance of the Public Health (Ireland) Act 1878, as well as cemeteries provided by the different church bodies, principally adjacent to churches. There are many burial grounds, especially the older ones in rural areas, which are no longer in active use.

There are forty-one burial grounds currently in use, which are controlled by the Council, and we employ thirty-eight part-time Registrars who carry out light maintenance and sell the grave spaces. Grants are provided to local voluntary committees who maintain defunct and existing graveyards in the County.

The Council for its part through the Area Engineers carry out the heavier type of maintenance where machinery etc. is required to be used.

The Water and Environmental Section mainly deals with applications to erect gravestones, applications for exhumation licence and general queries in relation to graveyards.

The consent of the Council is required if a person wishes to erect a memorial (headstone) in any of the Council controlled graveyards. However, the consent of the Office of Public Works is required if the memorial is to be erected in the Old graveyard at Glendalough, but the application must be made through the Council.

A permit is required from the Council if the remains of a deceased person are to be exhumed.

Exhumation Licence - 23kb

Report on Burial Grounds Survey, Maintenance and Development Policy - 6mb