Mourners in County Mayo will have to seek special permission for
music at the graveside if new byelaws currently been proposed by Mayo
County Council get the go-ahead.
Under the proposed new byelaws, “no person shall operate any sound
re-producing equipment or play any musical instrument in a cemetery
without the prior consent of the council.”
Speaking at the Special Policy Committee meeting on the Environment
and Agriculture at Mayo County Council local Cllr Richard Finn said,
“The new proposed byelaws were unfair to grieving mourners.”
“To have to come to Mayo County Council to ask whether we can play
the flute at the graveyard is a new low for us. It takes away every
human right and dignity and I'm sure that no elected representative will
vote for this.”
Another member of Mayo County Council, Cllr Michael Kilcoyne also
expressed his concerns.
He claimed “lots of burials have music played
at them.”
“The current byelaws as they are proposed are unworkable due to
council opening hours and holidays.”
He added, “what if someone died on
Holy Thursday? Who are you going to get permission from then if there
is no one in the council office?”
He also added that the council needs to look more closely at the
whole issue of gravediggers and how they are covered by insurance.