AN estimated 7,000 people visited cemeteries in Derry and Strabane over two days after they re-opened on Saturday.
Derry City and Strabane District Council said all of its graveyards were busy following the decision to open again to the public after a four-week closure.
Head of environment Conor Canning said there was a constant flow of people at Derry city cemetery in particular.
It was the focus of a protest last week against the decision to close all cemeteries as a precaution against the spread of coronavirus.
Derry woman Etta Darcy, who organised the protest, said she did so because she wasn’t able to visit the grave of her husband Hugh who died last August.
Video: Disabled widower unable to drive into Milltown Cemetery to visit wife's grave
Mrs Darcy said daily visits to his grave helped her come to terms with her grief.
Mr Canning said: “We had a number of stewards on site just to manage that flow into and out of the cemeteries.
"There were times when we had to ask people to wait while other people concluded their visits and left.”
The council official said the public worked with officials to ensure the re-opening of cemeteries operated smoothly.
“We didn’t see anyone too upset about having to wait any period of time. I think people were just glad to be able to access and visit their relatives (graves),” he said.
Visitors to the council’s 13 cemeteries were admitted on a one-car-in and one-car-out basis.
Mr Canning said people kept their visits to a minimum and observed social distancing guidelines.
The council-owned cemeteries are being opened to the public from 2.30pm to 9pm daily.
