Former Lord Mayor and Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy has called for public consultation to be included in any future management strategy for All Saint’s Cemetery on Carr’s Hill. In raising the historic cemetery at the February Cork City Council meeting, the Chief Executive outlined that since the completion of the transfer of ownership of the Carr’s Hill graveyard to Cork City Council in mid- 2023 a review of all surveys and information pertaining to the site is being undertaken in order to inform a sustainable maintenance and management strategy for the site. An archaeological conservation strategy is not currently being undertaken.

A number of non-intrusive archaeological surveys have been carried out including GPR (ground penetrating radar) and drone photogrammetry surveys which have created a detailed 2D and 3D model of the physical landscape and features at Carr’s Hill.

A bio-diversity study for the site was completed late last year. Further analysis of these surveys and studies is ongoing and Council Members will be updated as matters progress. In the meantime the graveyard has been included in the Parks work programme for 2025 and grass-cutting on the site will commence next month.

Cllr McCarthy noted: “The detailed survey work on All Saint’s Graveyard is welcome. I asked specifically at the Council meeting that there would be a form of public consultation woven into the future of any evolving management strategy for the site. Arising from public conversations, there are positive suggestions of how to improve access to the site and there are calls for improved interpretation on the site itself. There are also calls that that access to the site is maintained and improved. The maintenance of the Sorenson memorial Cross is essential as well as creating opportunities to commemorate more the victims of the Great Famine. There are also growing public calls to commemorate the children buried there from the City’s Mother and Baby Homes”.

View the site here and explore a short history video, October 2021: