COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM / TEMPLEOGUE / FIRHOUSE / BOHERNABREENA AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

QUESTION NO. 12

QUESTION: Councillor R. McMahon

With regard to St Josephs burial Ground in Bohernabreena, are the Council any closer to identifying the owners of the various unused plots in the old part of the cemetery? And are the Council any closer to finding a solution to taking these back in charge, where the owners are unknown or not traceable?

REPLY:

The Burial Grounds administration and operations team in Public Realm have examined various plots in the old part of St Josephs burial ground in Bohernabreena.

While a number of plots look vacant on the ground, some are actually already purchased, some are not recorded in the burial registers, a number of the plots have restricted access and are effectively blocked from further use.

There are currently 600 vacant plots including cremation plots available in Bohernabreena Cemetery. We have already expanded our capacity of plots here, and continue to review space for further expansion.

With the gaps in records, unclear ownership in places, and the way the site is laid out, it’s difficult to confirm ownership or look at taking plots back in charge at the moment.