15/10/2025
Upkeep and change of use of cemeteries and burial grounds are of vital importance to family historians. We have made a response to the below consultation via Nuala McAllister MLA as pertains to Northern Ireland legislation alongside similar calls to action in Australia and elsewhere across the globe - the consultation is open until 27th October: https://formurl.com/to/burial_protection_bill
The Society of Australian Genealogists strongly supports the aim of the Private Cemetery Status Bill. As an organisation representing thousands of members, many of whom trace their ancestry to Ireland, we recognise the vital importance of preserving and regulating burial grounds to ensure equitable access, long-term maintenance, and historical integrity. Cemeteries are irreplaceable genealogical and cultural resources, connecting present generations with their Irish heritage. Bringing privately-owned cemeteries under the same regulatory framework as council-owned sites will help safeguard burial records, protect memorials, and ensure where possible that these resting places remain accessible and respectfully maintained for future generations of researchers and descendants alike.
Thanks as well to Daniel Loftus Genealogy for the prompt.
Image from the Belfast Telegraph.
