by Bernie English bernie@limerickpost.ie
A LONG standing row about access to an historic graveyard, which is also the final resting place of many Limerick families could be on the brink of being solved.
Six councillors of the Shannon Municipal District are proposing to make the access road to Kilquane Graveyard in East Clare a public right of way. This would give full protection to the access rights of local people visiting the burial ground.
The proposal to declare a public right of way comes as part of a new draft County Development Plan for Clare. Members of the public have until the end of February 2016 to make submissions / observations.
For two and a half years, since the land on which the graveyard stands changed hands, there as been an issue between locals, a group which maintains the cemetary and the the new landowner.
The new owner has locked a gate across a track which had previously given free access to visit the site, requiring anyone wishing to visit getting the keys from a designated location between certain hours.
The draft plan will be on public display throughout the county and at council offices until the end of February so that interested parties can make submissions and observations.
The Parteen/Kilquane right of way is one of a number of designated public rights of way which give access to seashore, mountain, lakeshore, riverbank or other places of natural beauty or recreational activity as part of the draft plan.
