Advice issued ahead of Blessing of the Graves event
22 June 2023
A reminder has been issued today to anyone intending to attend the annual Blessing of the Graves Service, taking place at 3pm on Sunday June 25th that accessible parking will be available for Blue Badge holders at St Mary’s Church, Celtic Park and St Cecilia’s College.
A number of accessible spaces were made available within the cemetery for Blue Badge holders who booked in advance, but alternative parking will also be open at the three sites nearby. These spaces are available on a first come first served basis, but drivers must bring their current Blue Badge for access.
The event will also be live streamed on Youtube for anyone who cannot attend.
With thousands of people expected to visit the graves of loved ones on Sunday, visitors are bring advised to make themselves aware of a number of measures put in place to ensure health and safety.
The cemetery site itself will be closed from 12noon to facilitate preparations for the service. Only those who have already been allocated a designated parking space on site can access the cemetery after this time, and these vehicles must be in place before 2pm. Vehicle access to the cemetery will be via the Lone Moor Road Gate only.
In a joint statement from the Council and the Church, a spokesperson said: “A number of measures will be in place on Sunday to keep pedestrians safe, and we would appeal to people to adhere to the advice of stewards at all times.
“Please keep in mind that even if you have a space inside the cemetery, these are designated parking spaces which will be allocated on a first come first served basis, so you may still have to walk some distance to reach family graves.
“We would ask any visitors parking outside the cemetery to please park in appropriate areas and be considerate of people living in the area. Do not block roadways, footpaths or gateways when parking as this may impact emergency vehicles attending callouts.
“This is an important time of prayer for families who are remembering loved ones, and we ask that everyone is respectful and mindful of other visitors during the service. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in delivering this event.”
To view the live stream of the Blessing of the Graves go to the following links:
Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@CemeterySundayDerry
Live Event - https://www.youtube.com/live/CYanC-HvQjc?feature=share