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IAFD News
Irish Association Of Funeral Directors successfully lobby Government on behalf of bereaved
The 26 counties in the Republic of Ireland moved to Level 5 of the Living with Covid plan on Wednesday 21st October 2020. In the original plan level 5 restricted the number of mourners permitted to attend funeral services to 10 people. However, following extensive lobbying by the IAFD on behalf of its members and by other concerned parties the Government reviewed this limitation and keep the number permitted to attend funerals at the current limit of 25 people.
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On 24th September 2020 Keith Greaney from Galway was co-opted onto the Board of IAFD. Keith is married to Cathriona (A Galway Girl) and father to three girls. Following a career in various management roles, Keith, who had always been curious about funeral services, started work with Robert Conneely in Conneely’s in February 2018 and as trade embalmers he developed a real understanding of what goes on behind the scenes. Everyday interaction with many different Funeral Directors (both in size and in style of working) has given him a broad perspective of funeral services as a whole. Keith said “I was drawn to the Board of the IAFD because I believe funeral directors and funeral service providers are the glue holding many families together when they are bereaved. While we can’t grieve for them, we can take care of everything else to allow them the space that they need to grieve. I will always be grateful to Robert Conneely for having the foresight to see that I had transferable skills, built up over the years, that could be very useful in the funeral business.”
2020/2021 COURSE
The Education Officer and Programme Coordinator are responsible for delivering the FDCA Course which is more relevant to the work of funeral directors, and less expensive and less demanding time wise than the previous course, the Certificate in Funeral Practice.
The FDCA consists of three modules: 1. Operating and Managing a Funeral Business. 2. Arranging and Managing a Funeral; and 3. Safety and Health in the workplace.
Despite current restrictions due to COVID19 IAFD were determined to proceed with the course and are pleased to announce that 16 students commenced the course on 8th October 2020. As with so much of life at present the course is being run via Zoom, which has been a learning curve for everyone however initial feedback from the students has been positive.
AGM
Work continues towards hosting the annual AGM via Zoom. As with the Education programme this will be a first for IAFD and we are sure it will also be a learning curve. We are looking forward to meeting our Members, even if it is virtually.
New IAFD Board Member
IAFD Contacts
Robert Fanagan (President) Fanagans
Donal Forde (First Vice President) Forde & Sons Funeral Home
South Gate Bridge Cork Co. Cork Ph: 021 4318222 Email: fordes@indigo.ie
Edwina Fitzgerald (Immediate Past President) Fitzgeralds Funeral Directors
Channel Road Rush Co. Dublin Ph: 087 3512949 Email: edwinafitzgerald78@gmail.com
Dara Gillespie (Hon. Secretary) Finlays Funeral Service
Tierney Street Ardee Co. Louth Mobile: 086 7923472 Email: dara.gillespie@finlaygrp.com
Niall Mulligan (Hon. Treasurer) Heffernan’s Funeral Directors
Trim Co. Meath Mobile: 086 8208501 Ph: 046 9438662 Email: heffernansfd@gmail.com
Mary Cunniffe (PRO) Massey Bros Funeral Home
Templeogue Village Dublin 6W Mobile: 085 8010742 Ph: 01 4907601 Email: mary.cunniffe@hotmail.com
Fintan Cooney (Membership Officer) Fanagans
54 Aungier Street Dublin 2 Ph: 01 4167700 Email: fintanjen@gmail.com
Tom Lawless Lawless Funeral Directors
Mucklagh, Tullamore Co. Offaly Ph: 057 9322622 Email: info@tullamorefunerals.ie
Dermot McCarthy McCarthy’s Funeral Home
Gurrane, Banteer, Cork. Ph: 029 56044 Email: dermot@mccarthyfuneraldirectors. com
Niamh Sweeney John Sweeney and Sons
Fairgreen Arklow Co Wicklow Ph: 0402 32333 Email: niamh@johnsweeneyandsons.ie
