Bye law to allow Coosan Cemetery flag to fly goes to public consultation
By Rebekah O'Reilly
A proposed change to the Cemetery Bye-Law, which would allow the Irish tricolour to fly in night-time hours at Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA) Memorial at Coosan Cemetery, has gone to public consultation.
The proposed bye-law went to public consultation on Monday last, October 19.
Section 24A of the Draft Cemetery Bye Laws 2027 is titled 'Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA) Memorial at Coosan Cemetery'.
The change to the bye-law relating to lighting, electrical installations, structures or fixtures within a burial ground, states "the Municipal District may permit the installation and operation of low-level, energy-efficient lighting for the purpose of illuminating the IUNVA Memorial at Coosan Cemetery", noting that the illumination should be limited to the memorial.
The change comes after a council meeting heard that the concept of night-time lighting had initially been ruled out by the council over concerns at the impact on the impact on wildlife, including birds and batsr roosting in the area, a need to protect urban spaces for dark skies, and associated costs that would come with maintenance of the lighting.
“I understand you have the individual's interests at heart. Public lighting in a cemetery will not be possible, but I will commit to taking the matter away for further consideration," said council official Jackie Finney in July of this year.
Addressing those concerns raised, the proposed change calls for the lighting to be designed in a way "as to illuminate the memorial without causing unnecessary glare, nuisance or disturbance to adjoining graves", to "use a practical low level of illumination consistent with the purpose of commemorating the persons represented by the memorial", and to "be designed and operated having regard to the protection of wildlife ... and to the avoidance of unnecessary light pollution".
The issue was first raised publicly by Cllr Paul Hogan at a July meeting of Athlone Moate Municipal District, on behalf of a local family, who have spent more than a year making the twice-daily journey to Coosan Cemetery.
The family requested the installation of a low-level light at the peacekeepers' memorial so the Irish tricolour can remain flying at night in accordance with flag protocol which allows it to remain aloft 24 hours a day as long as it has dedicated lighting.
"It's very sad that a woman who has lost her brother and husband in peacekeeping missions in Lebanon has to go out every day to put the flag up and every evening to take it down," Cllr Hogan told the meeting.
"It's a very sad state of affairs. This request has been refused in the interests of birds, bats and insects."
A copy of the draft Bye Laws may be inspected up to and including Tuesday, November 17 at the Civic Centre, Athlone from 9.30am to 4pm each working day or alternatively details are available online at https://consult.westmeathcoco.ie/
Submissions or observations with respect to the Draft Bye Laws may be made in writing, addressed to District Administrator, Municipal District of Athlone-Moate, Civic Centre, Church Street, Athlone or online at https://consult.westmeathcoco.ie/ on or before 4pm on Tuesday, November 24.