Belfast's oldest Christian burial site being neglected, say councillors
At the May meeting of the council's important Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, a number of councillors made an appeal for the council to move forward with work required at Friar's Bush Cemetery, off the Stranmillis Road.
At the meeting, member agreed to move from phase one of the newly devised Historic Cemeteries Programme to stage two, which means that money had not yet been committed by the council, but 'options were being fully worked up'.
Alliance Councillor Michael Long told City Hall: 'We have been trying to get tours at Friar's Bush Cemetery for a while, and getting an agreement is taking at least two months.
'I know there are staffing issues, but I would really like to push this. It is really a delay to work there which has been really transformational.'
SDLP Councillor Séamas de Faoite said: 'By way of an update, there are tours taking place, and I have been engaging, along with Councillor Gary McKeown, with one of the groups that has been operating tours for quite some time.
'They are very keen for a delegation of councillors to come and take part with one of the tours, and see some of the work they are doing.
'But there has been some frustration, in terms of moving ahead with work. One of their challenges has been getting approved to do Saturday tours, which is obviously a natural time when there will be a lot of tourists or visitors to the city about the place, particularly people who might have family ties to Friar's Bush.
'They have raised with me a couple of other issues they are trying to get progress on – there was a lot of damage from Storm Eowyn, including the felling of one of the large thorn trees which was first recorded in the early 1700s.
'That has not been properly removed, and they are looking for some way to replace that.
'They want support in clearing some of the paths between the graves, so there is safer access for the tour groups. They have also requested assistance on the raising of the headstone of Daniel McNamara, the United Irishman, who died on St Patrick's Day 1869.
'Also, the finial (ornamental) cross that was above the entrance gate was removed through Covid, because there was fear it was rotted and rusted and would fall.'
He said: 'It is a real resource in south Belfast, and something that a lot of people have family ties to. I have only recently discovered I have family ties in connection to Friar's Bush.
'I think it is really important that we see that move forward, it is an area of great history within the city, and we need to protect and preserve access to it.'
Legend has it that St Patrick built a church and blessed a well on the site of Friar's Bush Graveyard, while an order of friars is also said to have been established there.
Two important stones found within the cemetery grounds appear to support this theory.
The name Friar's Bush comes from an old hawthorn tree in the centre of the cemetery.
'It was blown down in Storm Eowyn in January and revealed the hidden grave of Daniel McNamara, a Catholic man who helped lead the United Irish rebellion in the 1790s.
During the 18th century, Catholics gathered in secret in the graveyard to worship under the bush, as the celebration of Catholic mass was banned under the Penal Laws.
After it was consecrated in 1829, the cemetery was used exclusively by Catholics.
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The site also contains the mass graves of hundreds of people who lost their lives during the cholera epidemic of the 1830s and the famine of the 1840s.
It was maintained by the Catholic Church until 2000 when it was taken over by the council.
The council says about the Historic Cemeteries Programme: 'The council owns five historic graveyards, four of which are currently closed: namely Balmoral, Clifton Street, Friar's Bush and Knock.
'Surveys have identified a programme of conservation and health and safety works which are required to improve the condition of the graveyards.
'Conservation and restoration improvements will allow the graveyards to be more accessible to the public and contribute to neighbourhood tourism. Safety works to monuments are being brought forward within a first phase of works.'
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