Faughart graveyard

The Office of Public Works (OPW) responded to a request by Dundalk Municipal District Committee for Faughart graveyard to be taken over by their office.

In a letter to councillors, Frank Shalvey from the Heritage Service Division of the OPW said ‘As you are award, the Office of Public Works is responsible for the conservation, presentation and management of approximately 780 national monuments and historic properties in the ownership or guardianship of the state. Faughart graveyard is not one of these monuments and is currently in the care of Louth County Council.’ He added: ‘ The decision to take any monument into state care rests with the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.’

Cllr. Mark Dearey criticised the response, adding that it ‘seemed the OPW are landing us with this.’ He asked that the council contact the department in relation to the request.