Donegal's first crematorium gets planning permission

Donegal’s first crematorium has been granted planning permission.

Donegal County Council has given the green light to Michael Morning for the construction of the facility in Letterkenny.

Mr Morning is planning to build a crematorium within a proposed funeral home at Carnamuggagh.

Plans for the funeral home were previously granted planning permission and in December a fresh application was lodged to add a crematorium to the facility.

The application provided for all ancillary works and connection to existing services.

Mr Morning, who owns the nearby Eternal Light Chapel of Rest, has been granted planning permission, subject to 20 conditions laid down by the Council.

The permission provides for the installation and operation of one oven for the cremation of human remains. 

The local authority has sought information regarding the training proposals for operational staff and the arrangements for the disposal of waste arising. 

It has also asked for a detailed monitoring programme for stakeholders emissions.

Various assessments and reports are also required by the Council before construction of the facility can begin

The applicant is to use ‘best practicable means’ to prevent or minimise noise and dust emissions during the construction and the operational phases of the development.

Construction can only take place between 7am-7pm Monday-Friday, 8am-2pm on Saturdays and not at all on Sundays or public holidays and the hours of operation will be between 9.30am-6pm seven days a week.

In 2021, An Bord Pleanála upheld a decision of Donegal County Council to refuse permission for the construction of a crematorium near Manorcunningham.

Lawrence Donnelly and Sane Stewart had proposed to turn the old Sallybrook Creamery, on a 0.83 hectare site at Monclink, Manorcunningham into a complex housing a crematorium, a funeral home, ancillary accommodation, memorial garden, parking, elevation treatment, connection to an existing septic tank and all associated site works.

That proposal was met with heavy objections with some 40 submissions lodged to the Council.

No submissions are noted against Mr Morning’s proposed development.

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At the moment, Donegal families face long journeys to either the Lakelands Crematorium in County Cavan or Roselawn Crematorium in Belfast for cremation services.