New cemetery on target for burials as old site nears full capacity

The first interments at Londonderry's new cemetery could go ahead as early as January.

It comes amid concerns Derry City Cemetery will reach full capacity by spring 2026.

The 30-acre site, to be known as Mullenan City Cemetery, will provide an additional 3,500 burial sites for the area by March.

It will include "a garden of angels" for babies and children; 200 plots for the Islamic community, which face Mecca; a number of smaller plots for burying ashes; and an above-ground structure for storing urns.

"Council is pushing that by January we should start to accommodate burials and, with a little help from the good weather, we are on programme," the construction manager for the site said.

"All I can say is that I'm pleased everything is going according to plan," added Brendan McCrossan, from E Quinn Civils.

However, some locals have complained about the graveyard's location which is almost five miles from the city centre.

The head of Derry City and Strabane's environment and building control said the council is "engaging with transport providers to see if they can bring their services to the site".

"Those are early discussions and we need time," added Conor Canning.

He noted that the site is only five minutes from the current city cemetery by car and "through discussions with Translink, we know that very few people are using their services to access the city cemetery".

"We have lots of car parking space and there is a new greenway which will connect to the Foyle greenway which, dependant on successful acquisition, will allow people to walk or cycle from the city," he said.

"That, of course, will not serve the needs of everybody... but we are fairly confident that over time we will see a public bus service for this site and the area."

A roundabout has also been built near the middle of the site to accommodate large buses turning.

Work began on the site in March

When phase one is complete - due March 2026 - the site will comprise of 157 car parking spaces.

There will also be a multi-purpose building where funeral services can be held.

The same building will be be available for those who wish to use it to gather after funerals.

Brendan McCrossan is site manager for Tyrone firm E Quinn Civils

Mr McCrossan said there have been about "15 direct staff on the job since May 2025" and "six or seven sub-contractors on-site at any given time too".

"We were involved with the extension up over the city cemetery when that work was done, which I think benefited us during this job," he added.

Councillor Declan Norris says the new graveyard is more accessible than Derry City Cemetery

Chair of the council's environment and regeneration committee, Declan Norris, remarked that the old cemetery "isn't going anywhere" and burials will still take place, for example in family graves.

"But yes, once capacity is filled then people will start to be buried out here," he told BBC News NI.

"Unfortunately, that's just the circle life.

"But, in my opinion, this is a very accessible site. In the city cemetery, you'd have been up and down hills; at least here it's flat.

"I think that if council get the public transport sorted out, which they are working towards, this will be a great thing for the city."