Mon 12 Oct 09: Angels plot: More time for families
GLASNEVIN CEMETERY - MORE TIME FOR ANGELS PLOT FAMILIES
Glasnevin Trust has put back the commencement of renovation works at the new Angels’ plot by a couple of weeks to allow some families who still have concerns to discuss them with the Cemetery or the Irish Stillbirth & Neonatal Death Society (ISANDS). This will also allow some other families, who could not attend the cemetery by the 12th October, more time to make their arrangements to remove their personal mementoes from the shared graves.
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- If you have a specific concerns, please WRITE TO US TO REGISTER THOSE CONCERNS and ALSO YOUR PROPOSALS that honour the principals of equal dignity for all burials; long term maintenance; easy and meaningful personal visits to gravesites. To register your concerns online click here
- Please inform us of your infants/baby's NAME, DATE OF LOSS and resting place PLOT NUMBER (if known)
- Once your letter has been received, we will contact you to arrange a meeting in private to discuss your concerns.
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For Angels Remembrance Garden Plan ... click here
For Angels Remembrance Garden FAQs ... click here
Over a thousand families have now come to Glasnevin Cemetery in the last two weeks to remove personal mementoes from shared graves in the new Angel’s plot. The Cemetery will proceed with the works in keeping with the wishes of the significant majority of families associated with the plot and those of ISANDS.
Glasnevin Trust deeply appreciate the response of the significant majority of families to its request to remove memorials. The Trust will continue to be available to consult with any people who are against this initiative the aim of which is to ensure burials in these shared graves are honoured with equal dignity and in perpetuity.
The Trust and ISANDS have uploaded a clip on Youtube of the work undertaken on the old Angels Plot in 2004 to demonstrate what the renovations involve: click here
The facts regarding the renovation and remembrance garden are:
1. There are 40,000 burials in shared graves (2 feet by 8 feet) in the new Angels plot. There are up to 30 burials in each grave.
2. The Trust and ISANDS do not have the names addresses of all families of Angels. This information is in the custody of the maternity hospitals.
3. Consultation on the renovation plans commenced over four months ago on the 24th May 2009. Since then both the Trust and ISANDS have consulted with many thousands of families.
4. No headstones will be removed and no graves will be dug up during the renovation. The work will be expertly undertaken.
5. The location of all graves in the Cemetery can be precisely pinpointed by the Trust.
6. Families will continue to be able to leave cut flowers on graves.
7. Families can continue to put presents on shared graves if they wish, however they will need to be removed by the Cemetery staff after a short period of time out of respect to the other burials in the shared grave.
8. Families who want their stone and marble memorials to be near to the new Angels plot can arrange with the Cemetery to have them permanently installed at a dedicated place beside the plot. This was successfully undertaken by families associated with the old Angel’s plot where those memorials still are in situ today.
9. All families whose babies were buried from 1987 onwards have a dedicated shared headstone on each grave and can choose to have their babies’ names and dates of birth inscribed on the headstones provided if they wish.
10. Families whose babies were buried between 1970 and 1986 can choose to inscribe their babies’ names and dates of birth on the shared headstones located on the periphery of the plot if they wish. To date 8 new inscriptions for 1970s burials have been added this week.
11. The renovated plot will include 1,400 rose bushes. If families choose to they will be able to dedicate a bush to their baby as an option. No decision has been made as to whether there will be a nominal charge made towards the cost of the plaque and maintenance of the rose bush.
12. Glasnevin Cemetery is run on a not-for-profit basis.
13. The renovation of the new Angels’ plot is being funded by the Cemetery’s dedicated maintenance fund. It is not being funded in any way by the main renovation project of the Cemetery which is being undertaken in conjunction with the OPW.
14. The Angels’ plots service is provided to bereaved parents from all over the country and is run at a loss. It is provided without charge for the use of the burial ground or headstones, both of which are provided free-of-charge by the Cemetery. A modest charge is made for the opening of the grave and for an inscription on the headstone which is applied only if a family wants an inscription (some do not).
15. These changes have precedent (Old Plot renovation in 2004) and are within the bye-laws of the Cemetery, which do not allow memorialisation of the Angels’ Plot graves.
16. Glasnevin Cemetery & Trust is run by a statutory body – The Dublin Cemeteries Committee which is governed by the Sanitary Services Act (1848) and the Dublin Cemeteries Committee Act (1970).
Further information
Web: www.glasnevintrust.ie / www.isands.ie E-mail: (info@glasnevintrust.ie ) Tel: Glasnevin Cemetery 01-8826500 (9:30am to 5pm Mon- Fri & Sat 9:30am to 1pm)/ ISANDS 01-872 6996.