Pensioner Sheila O’Bryne who lives on Merrion Road, Dublin 4 claims she and others are totally distraught at plans to put a cycle lane through Deansgrange Cemetery.
Miss O’Byrne says the plan is disrespectful to the deceased, along with being intrusive to mourners at Deansgrange, one of Dublin’s largest cemeteries. Sheila and friend Catherine Stevenson stood outside the cemetery wall last week, holding handmade placards objecting to the proposals.
Last week, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLR) announced it was moving forward with Part 8, Article 81 of the Planning and Development Regulations, 2001 (as amended) for the Deansgrange Cycle Route Scheme.
DLR stated its main aim for this proposal is linked with the active school travel scheme aimed to provide students and parents with safe, direct and comfortable walking and cycling routes to schools.
The project aims to also provide an alternative for families who do not or cannot drive, who may not be able to avail of public transport and wish to travel to school on foot or by bike.
Given the increase in walking and cycling during the Covid-19 pandemic, the plan hopes to reduce traffic congestion at schools, as well as encouraging a shift away from the use of private cars, particularly for short journeys.It is furthermore in keeping with the council’s programme for climate action.
Deansgrange Cemetery is located the R827 and is home to more than 150,000 burials. The cemetery stretches over 70 acres of land with a number of mausoleums and a wide range of grave stones, from traditional Celtic crosses to contemporary granite slabs.
“I and many others are gutted to hear of this proposal. To have cycle lanes through a cemetery? That’s just so disrespectful! People go there to pay respects to deceased family members or to mourn a loved one,” says Sheila who grew up in Ringsend and has many beloved family members buried therein Deansgrange Cemetery.
“Many go to reach out to their loved ones who’ve passed over, to spend a quiet few moments and think. I’m worried there will be young people whizzing around the cemetery on bikes, and it could generate anti-social behaviour.
“I’m 66; I and many pensioners I’ve spoken to, would feel vulnerable in there if there were gangs of youth in the cemetery. I also feel very strongly that this is disrespectful to the deceased buried there.
“More money should be invested in the upkeep of the cemetery, not wasting money on introducing cycle lanes,” she said.
DLR has proposed three routes as summarised here:
· Sea to Mountains: “will link east to west across the County. Starting at Blackrock Dart Station, crossing the N11 to Deerpark. It will then continue south linking to the Sandyford Cycle Route and Kilmacud Luas Stop and on to the Slang River Greenway and Wicklow Way.”
· Park to Park: “will link north to south across the county. Starting at the coast at Blackrock Dart Station and then joining the existing pathways in Rockfield Park. From there it will continue south along Deansgrange Road linking to the Loughlinstown to Deansgrange Greenway and ending by linking south to the coast.”
· Mountains to Metals: “will link east-west across the county. Starting at the Sandyford Cycle Route, linking to the Sea to Mountains Route, the route also links up to the Park to Park route, north through residential areas and new developments and on to the Metals.”
The council is seeking views from the public re the proposed cycle scheme. Submissions/observations can be made via e-mail to [email protected]
Observations should be clearly marked ‘Deansgrange Cycle Route Scheme’, the closing date for submissions is Thursday, October 20 next.
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