Local Fianna Fáil Councillor Michael Cahill believes that the people of Beaufort are extremely worried by the news that negotiations to purchase land adjoining Churchtown Burial Ground to provide more grave spaces has hit a stumbling block, when everybody thought that a deal had been agreed.

“The land in question is the perfect fit for what is required in this case and everybody had been confident that the major problem of no more local spaces available for burials in Beaufort, had been solved. Somehow, a hiccup has appeared and I am now making a special plea to all sides to sit around the table and iron out any difficulties or misunderstanding that may have presented themselves. I will offer to act as Chairman for such a meeting, if required, as I did previously,” said Councillor Cahill.
Speaking at a recent meeting of Kerry County Council where he raised the matter, Councillor Cahill said:
"This is the single biggest issue in the Parish and families are extremely concerned that loved ones will have to be buried in a different Burial Ground outside the Parish. It is also my understanding that there are only one or two plots left and this needs to be resolved at the earliest possible date.”

“I have had many representations from residents of Beaufort on this most sensitive of issues, as well as from Beaufort Community Council and Tidy Towns and of course the Churchtown Burial Ground Committee, all of whom are extremely worried by the lack of grave spaces in their own Parish. It has been reported that the remaining spaces are allocated on an internal pathway, in a section that was previously prone to flooding. This is absolutely not good enough and we must sort the land purchase out urgently,” said Councillor Cahill.