A new £5million crematorium is set to open in County Antrim next week, becoming only the second of its kind in Northern Ireland.
A project of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, the local authority is hosting an open day event on Saturday (June 3rd) when the public is invited to go along and take a tour of the new facility between 10am and 2pm.
The state-of-the-art crematorium has been thoughtfully been designed for families and mourners and the wider site includes a memorial garden and columbarium for the interment of ashes.
Located on Doagh Road, Newtownabbey (directly opposite Ballyearl Arts and Leisure Centre), the building nestles in a parkland setting, with walking paths within a landscaped area purposefully created to help provide a sense of privacy and calm.
Council have planted native trees and a wildflower meadow at the site that will "contribute positively to the visual appearance" and "enhance ecological value, whilst a pond will provide a sense of calmness and encourage biodiversity".
The crematorium Ceremony Room offers the latest technology for services, providing the very best standard for music, visual tributes and live streaming. While the main room accommodates up to 164 people, the waiting room has the ability to double up as an overflow for larger gatherings and is fitted with a tribute screen and speakers.
A spokesperson for Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council commented:
"This facility will be a great asset for the community offering an essential service to families, to ensure that in difficult time’s people can say goodbye to their loved ones in a dignified way."
The Crematorium is scheduled to open on Monday 5 June 2023.
The council says "it believes that providing a respectful and relaxed service is essential and we don’t want families to feel rushed, therefore we will offer a 45 minute service hourly from 10am to 3pm."
Pricing for 2023/24 is £475 for residents in the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough and £950 for non-residents.