Crematorium plans are a sign of the times

The decision by Louth County Council to grant planning permission for a crematorium to be built off the Racecourse Road in Dundalk is really a sign of the times.

Twenty, even ten years ago few would have thought that there was any need for a crematorium in this country and indeed there were only a few dotted round the country, mainly in Dublin and Cork.

Recently however towns and cities in Ireland are following a trend that has developed in all modern countries, and of late, the crematorium in Cavan has been used by an increasing number of families from this area.

It is accepted that cremation is not for everyone, and it is only since the 20th century that it has gained varying degrees of acceptance by most Christian denominations.

The Catholic Church accepted the practice more slowly, for it was only in 1963 that the Second Vatican Council convened by Pope Paul VI lifted the ban on cremation.

Following the Vatican Council the Catholic Church in 1966 allowed their priests to officiate at cremation ceremonies, but they imposed a condition that the ashes must be buried or interned and not scattered.

Historically the cremation of bodies dates back at least 17,000 years according to some experts, and the 2.4 kg of remains known as ashes or ‘cremains’ after modern cremation are really not ashes but fragments of bone material that do no constitute any health risk.

There are however environmental concerns about crematoriums, mainly expressed by residents living nearby, but recent studies by the Netherlands Organisation of Applied Research found that cremation has less of an environmental impact than a traditional burial, while the new method of alkaline hydrolysis (sometimes called green cremation or resomation) has less impact than both.

The environmental impact may also be reduced by using cremators for longer periods, and not cremating on the same day as the coffin is received, which reduces the use of fossil fuel and hence carbon emissions.

There are undoubtedly other concerns expressed by some, other than the environmental issue, and this applies to preserving the long held and cherished tradition in Ireland of the wake, be it in the home or the funeral home, the funeral service, followed by burial, and all held within days of the death.

In other countries, notably the UK, the funeral service can take place weeks after the death, and in most cases is sparsely attended.

Consequently it is often said that “we do funerals well in this country”, and while cremation, does not prevent a Requiem Mass, or church service being held, there are fears that a tradition that we all hold dearly could be diminished.

Hopefully that will not happen and we will continue to give our loved ones the dignity and the respect that they deserve in death, and no doubt the crematorium in Dundalk will be anxious to uphold that tradition.