Health and safety sinks St Mogue’s burial boat
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A boat carrying the remains of the late Edward McKiernan prepares to leave for St Mogue’s Island Graveyard, on Templeport Lough, in June 2020, as mourners watch on. St Mogue’s Island has been used as a burial ground for hundreds of years, but it is now officially closed except for a few families whose ancestors are buried there. Photo: Lorraine Teevan INSET: Templeport Lake with St Mogue’s Island at the centre. LORRAINE TEEVANImage 2 of 2
Templeport Lake with St Mogue’s Island at the centre.An “alternative” is being sought, elected representatives were assured, when informed that health and safety rules had sunk the prospect of locals using the existing craft provided to visit St Mogue’s Island.
The island near Bawnboy is a burial ground for the parishes of Templeport and Corlough in Co Cavan, and Lower Drumreilly in Co. Leitrim. However, a recent “assessment” flagged concerns with the existing fibreglass craft and, as a result, it was deemed no longer suitable for service.
The matter came to the fore on foot of a motion raised at last week’s meeting of the Cavan-Belturbet Municipal District area in the Townhall Theatre in Cavan.
Fianna Fáil’s Sean Smith said the “issues” had come to light only in recent months. The local councillor and Templeport resident noted how the development couldn’t have come at a worse time for the local community, which welcomes large numbers of people back to the parish during the summer. Along with the upcoming festival in the West Cavan village, he said visitors wished to visit the graves of loved ones at St Mogue’s Island. Responding, senior engineer Paul Mulligan said he was aware of anxiety regarding health and safety, but the council had been “working on this for a while”.
He informed the meeting that boats needed to be assessed and formally “certified” for public use, but the vessel being used to convey remains to St Mogue’s Island no longer met regulation standard.
“Some issues have been identified,” said Mr Mulligan of the boat, which is now “nearly 30 years old”.
Compared to newer types it sits “very low” in the water, and while he assured the council is working to remedy the situation long-term, for this summer at least he hoped an “alternative” craft could be sourced.
Further down the road Mr Mulligan stated that a source of funding would be required to replace what is there with a more modern craft, hinting at the type of boat used by the Civil Defence.
Cllr Smith reminded the meeting that a traditional small, open canoe-like boat called a cot was used by generations accessing St Mogue’s Island before, stating: “... and it stayed the test of time.”
Cavan County Council has been contacted by the Celt for comment.