How Quaint

Madam

Well thats what American friends said when I showed them this article from the Irish Times!



Atheists forced to travel out of Donegal for final resting place

IT APPEARS there may be nowhere in Co Donegal where someone who is openly an atheist can be buried.

Such was the discovery of journalist Roy Greenslade this week, following the death of his mother last Saturday.

Her remains could not be buried in Donegal. She was buried in a Derry city cemetery instead.

A humanist funeral service for Joan Greenslade took place last Monday but, her son told The Irish Times , that "according to the church people I approached - and underlined by the undertaker - an atheist cannot be buried (in Donegal) because the churches, Catholic, Church of Ireland and Presbyterian, own the graveyards. Therefore, unless one is willing to compromise one's beliefs by agreeing to a religious service, it is impossible to be buried."

He spoke to a former Church of Ireland rector on the matter who advised him it was "out of the question" for his mother to be buried in a Church of Ireland graveyard there.

His mother was buried in Derry on Tuesday.

The city council's cemeteries department, when asked if they could bury an atheist, said they had different areas in the municipal graveyard for Catholics, Protestants and even Muslims.

Asked whether they were starting an atheist section for Mrs Greenslade the reply was: "No, we're putting her in with the Protestants."

A spokeswoman for Donegal County Council said it had responsibility only for old and unused graveyards.

A spokesman for the Church of Ireland diocese of Derry and Raphoe, which includes north Donegal, was mystified by the situation.

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So, what would have happened if she could'nt for some reason go to Derry for burial?

Mehh

It's crazy that the lady had to be brought to Derry to be buried, but if there was a demand for an athiest graveyard (and there's bound to be an increasing demand for it) I'm sure the council would eventually address it.

I think most athiests/agnostics would still go for a traditional religious burial just to keep the extended family happy, and maybe out of a sense of tradition. But fair play to these folks for highlighting the issue.

Senna

its a strange one allright, but i can see the churches point of view, they own the land and have to pay for the up-keep, so i suppose its their right to refuse, just a bit un-Christian of them.

wasn't there a woman buried in Fanad in the garden of her home, it was years ago and i think there was a court case about it, cant remember the outcome.

The council would maybe buy a small area in the existing graveyards to cater for such people, as Mehh says there will probably be an increase in this.

il gatto

Americans can't comment on quaintness. Bunch of hillbilly, puritanical nutjobs:pac: (Just following the election:D).
I would've thought that most counties have some municipal cemeteries which are open to all, or indeed no, religions.
I don't think the demand for an athiest burial ground would be that high. Many athiests do not hold their beliefs later in life. I've known a few who've "found" religion (or re-found) as they've grown older. I also find that of the few out and out athiests I've met, the majority were more disposed to cremation, partly out of a sense that a christian cemetery wouldn't sit well with their beliefs, and partly to avoid issues as reported above. If a person has been very open about their athiesm, some priests (of many religions) may have an issue with use of their cemetery. Of the athiests who do settle for a traditional burial and ceremony, some are performed by open minded priests and some by priests who don't know the situation. Either way, it's a shame someone had to be buried away from home like that.