Fine Gael Councillors from Cork City are holding a public meeting on Thursday the 5th of August at 7.00pm in the SMA Hall in Wilton to bring together members of the general public who have expressed an interest in the upkeep and maintenance of St Finbarr’s Cemetery.
The purpose of the meeting called by Councillors Buttimer, Cahill, McGonigle and O’Halloran, and is to bring together and co-ordinate individuals who have expressed an interest in getting involved in having this important historical cemetery cleaned up.
Over the past number of weeks a lot of attention has been focussed on the lack of maintenance being carried out at the landmark city graveyard because of a reduction in the number of groundsmen arising from the recruitment embargo imposed on local authorities by central government.
Families of deceased have been in contact with public representatives from across the city expressing their disappointment and hurt at the present condition of the graveyard. The local Fine Gael Councillors decided that the time for discussion had moved to a time for action.
Speaking in advance of the public meeting the Fine Gael Councillors stated that their aims for the meeting were to;
- listen to the concerns of the general public regarding the condition of the graveyard,
- facilitate communication between members of the general public,
- elected public representatives and City Council on this issue,
- facilitate the establishment of a ‘Friends of St Finbarr’s Cemetery’ association,
- to co-ordinate an immediate volunteer lead clean up of the cemetery,
- to call for an increase in the number of staff allocated to the graveyard at the earliest possible opportunity.
The public meeting is open to all interested individuals and will start promptly at 7.00pm.