Killarney has only enough new spaces for one year left in its public burial grounds.
Historic burial grounds such as Muckross Abbey in the Killarney National Park, the burial place of Gaelic poets Piaras Feirtear, Aogán Ó Rathaille and Eoghan Rua Ó Súilleabháin, have already closed except to the oldest families who already have graves there.
The old Aghadoe cemetery, the site of a round tower, a 12th-century church and the former bishopric, is also full, as is the so-called New Cemetery north-east of the town. A minor extension this year led to fewer than 30 new spaces being created there.
There has been an increase in population in Killarney. It is estimated that up to one-third of some of the newer housing estates are being bought by people intent on retiring to the town immediately or at a later stage, and who have no family ties to the town.
Locals and the town council have several times approached the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the major landowner in the vicinity of the town, which manages the Killarney National Park, for land for public burial ground.
Mr Michael Courtney, former mayor of Killarney, said the situation had reached "crisis stage". Although a private burial ground was available, this did not meet the wishes of the people for a public burial ground, he said.
The town was looking for just "a couple of acres" to see to its needs. A site which had been offered by the Office of Public Works 20 years ago, across a main road from Muckross Abbey, would still be suitable, and it would not interfere with the national park.
"This is a very very serious situation. We as a town council have to pursue this," he said. People wanted to visit their loved ones in a public cemetery, he added.
Mr Tim O'Shea, a local funeral director, said there were about 120 deaths each year in Killarney . While not all of the deceased would require burial plots, perhaps 20 per cent, sometimes more, sought new plots. New people moving into Killarney would not have access to existing family plots, he explained.
Mr O'Shea said there were many unused graves and some family graves which were not being used. People might not realise that family graves could be reopened within a 14-year period in such places as old Aghadoe, he said.
The town council is to approach the National Parks and Wildlife Service again