With echoes of that traditional spiritual  song by African-American author James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938) it is reported in the Wexford People that a Wexford man expresses concern over the nature of waste unearthed at the site of the town’s old county hospital.

The site backs onto the Glenbrook estate and a resident there said he and others are worried by what has been unearthed during works on an €8 million community nursing unit (Farnogue Healthcare Unit) at Carricklawn. The waste uncovered includes a large number of old bottles of all shapes and sizes, bone fragments and other items that were only brought to light during the clearance and excavation works recently carried out on the site directly beneath the old county hospital.

The concerned resident said that there are concerns that an old medical dump, dating back to the time the old hospital was still in use, has been uncovered and people are worried about the consequences of this for nearby houses.

Of course, that will always be the case – explain what you have found, what might be, and ask if they are concerned. Yes will always be the answer of the vast majority.

Is it acceptable?  Well, clearly not as the aesthetics are simply not right and people do understandably get concerned. But the real tangible risks are effectively nil; no risk of infection, and no risk of ghosts and ghoulies rising at the stroke of midnight, so the residents can sleep soundly.

Some remedial work will be required.

The case exemplifies the finds that can be made of old unused or redeveloped hospital sites and old burial grounds.