Derry cemeteries to close an hour earlier

The Council said that, in light of earlier sunsets and from Monday, September 7, all Council cemeteries will now open from 2.30pm to 8.30pm.

After being closed during lockdown, cemeteries reopened in late April, with around 12,000 visitors arriving over the first weekend. During the closure, grieving relatives had staged a protest outside the locked gates of the City Cemetery calling for the facility to be reopened to allow people to tend to their loved ones graves.

A spokesperson for the Council said that the new earlier closing time of 8.30pm as opposed to 9.30pm “will ensure the safety and wellbeing of staff and cemetery users”.

“As the days are getting shorter and the evenings darker, there is a need to consider the safety of those using the cemetery.

“The opening times at cemeteries and other council facilities are under constant review and any further changes over the coming weeks and months will be communicated to the public through the media, social media and Council website.

“All Council owned cemeteries will continue to be open to the public from 2.30pm daily. They remain closed to the public in the mornings to allow for funerals to take place and to facilitate staff to carry out routine maintenance works.”

The spokesperson added: “In accordance with Government guidelines on funerals, the Council is continuing to appeal to the public to adhere to the guidelines on social distancing and to co-operate with staff at all times.”

Members of the public with any enquiries are advised to contact the Cemetery office via telephone at 028 71 362615. More info is available at www.derrystrabane.com/cemeteriesREAD MORE: www.derryjournal.com/news/people/thousands-visit-reopened-cemeteries-across-nw-2654159READ MORE: www.derryjournal.com/health/you-see-heartbreak-peoples-faces-says-derry-widow-etta-darcy-she-leads-protest-be-allowed-city-cemetery-2544802