FIANNA Fáil councillor Catherine Slattery has urged Limerick City and County Council to make a submission for funding under the Historic Structures Fund Grant from the Department of Heritage for the chapel at Mount St Lawrence Cemetery.
She told the council executive at this month’s Metropolitan District meeting that the protected structure is in a “dilapidated” condition and a lawsuit waiting to happen.
“Mount St Lawrence is a historical cemetery. The first burial in this cemetery was in 1855,” Cllr Slattery told council members.
“It is a well known cemetery in Limerick and most of us have families buried here. It is a very busy cemetery with people coming and going visiting their loved ones”
She warned the chapel is now in a dangerous state.
“The roof has caved in and there is a sheet of steel now covering the roof and the crypt has collapsed and has orange railings around it,” the City East representative pointed out.
Two implications can now come from the dilapidation of the chapel, she said.
“If someone is injured, the Council will be 100 per cent liable. Also, if the church starts to deteriorate more, it could attract anti-social behaviour and this is certainly something we don’t want in the main cemetery in Limerick,” Cllr Slattery argued.
“I am asking the Council to apply for funding to restore this church and maybe in time once it is restored, the church could be used again for blessings as there are talks to install a columbarium wall at this cemetery.
“This church is part of Limerick’s history and it is a shame to see it left in such a state.”
In response, senior engineer Aidan Finn said that the Council are arranging for a funding application to be submitted to the Historic Structure Funds Grant for works to the chapel at Mount Saint Lawrence cemetery.
“The funding application will be submitted by the end of January 2024,” he explained.
