Dramatic rise in number of deaths

March 1986

The opening months of 1986 have a brought a dramatic increase in the number of deaths in Wexford town.

The number of burials at St. Ibar’s Cemetery in Crosstown in the first ten weeks of the year is up by one-third on last year, and up by almost 70% on the year before.

The most startling increase has taken place this month, with a burial a day on most days, and two burials on one day, up to the 8th of March – meaning nine burials in eight days. This is compared to just three burials in the entire month of March last year.

Deaths in January of this year also showed an increase on the same month last year, with an even more dramatic rise taking place between 1984 and 1985.

Eighteen people were buried at Crosstown in January this year; fourteen last January; and just four in January 1984.

Sheila Mulligan, who runs an undertakers business with her husband Paddy at The Faythe, has confirmed the increase in the number of deaths in the town.

‘ There certainly is a big increase in the number of burials. We have noticed it all right.’