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IAFD News
A Note from IAFD President
Here we are over halfway through the second year of this pandemic. I think a lot of us are suffering from Covid fatigue at this stage, everyone is tired of the conversations about restrictions, guidelines, social distancing, variants, vaccines etc. We have been though at lot and if Covid has taught us anything it is that people are resilient and can adapt to new ways of living when we need to. The board of the IAFD have been busy throughout the year even though we are restricted to meet by Zoom. Our 2020/21 funeral certificate award course has finished, and students are awaiting their results. Earlier in the year, we carried out a survey of members seeking their views on various topics. The Board are now looking at ways of implementing some of the findings of that survey. I know a lot of funeral directors were frustrated by the vaccination roll out, the Board and I share that frustration, we tried everything in our power to get a dedicated vaccination programme for funeral workers and while we received a lot of empty platitudes, we got no vaccines. Thankfully the governments vaccine programme by age cohort after a slow start has been effective and most people that wanted to receive a vaccine should have one by now. As president of the IAFD I would like to thank all funeral directors who have adhered to government guidelines regarding the advertising of funeral arrangements, and I would ask any funeral directors who aren’t adhering to the guidelines to please do so. I have written to the Government and asked for a framework to be put in place for the return of funerals to pre Covid practices as soon as possible and, am awaiting a response. I would like to sympathise with any funeral directors who have lost loved ones during the pandemic Covid related or otherwise, as we all know it has been a very difficult time for grieving families. Hopefully it won’t be long before we can meet again in person, in the meantime take care and stay safe. Donal Forde
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IAFD News Self-Care and Managing Stress Workshop
The first IAFD Workshop of 2021 took place on 9th June 2021. Like our 2020 AGM, all members were invited to join the workshop via Zoom.
For most people in our profession, the events of the past fourteen months have been unusual to say the least. It would probably be more truthful to say they have been challenging, frightening, stressful and sometimes overwhelming. Faced with a global pandemic and with little or no time to prepare, members of the funeral services were thrust onto the frontline. Our own personal safety, the safety of our staff and that of our bereaved families and friends was, and still is, foremost in our minds.
However, we should not focus solely on physical health and wellbeing. This past year has brought extra strains to what was already an emotionally draining role; retraining our minds as to the “new norm” for funerals while trying to maintain the traditions and rituals which bring comfort and consolation to the bereaved, advising families of everchanging restrictions, dealing with the disappointment and despair expressed by people who were denied their final goodbye to their loved one, all of these challenges have taken their toll.
The importance of self-care, of managing stress and of protecting our mental health has never been more evident or more widely publicised. It is the responsibility of all funeral directors to ensure that their own mental health and that of their employees, is not overlooked. However, accessing the correct information, advice, support and training can sometimes be quite difficult, especially for smaller firms.
With all this in mind, we invited Denis O’Connor to host our workshop. Denis has been working in the area of psychotherapy for over twenty years. He has formulated this two hour event specifically for funeral directors and their teams.
The five topics Denis discussed were; • How Stress Affects Us: Physically, Emotionally and Behaviourally. • Secondary Traumatic Stress: How continually working with the bereaved impacts on us • Burnout: Signs, symptoms and how to recognise these • Grief Management: Recognising the different stages of grief • Self Care: Defining what self-care is, How paying attention to our thinking improves wellbeing and Model of self-care
For over a year now, members of our association have stood united and worked hard to ensure that the Irish Funeral, the customs we all hold dear, and which bring so much solace to the bereaved, have continued in a respectful, dignified but ultimately safe manner. We can be enormously proud of all we have achieved and of our efforts and ingenuity in the face of unimaginable adversity. It is important now that we ensure that we are healthy and strong in mind & body and fully prepared for what the future may bring.
IAFD Contacts
Donal Forde (President) Forde & Sons Funeral Home
South Gate Bridge Cork, Co. Cork Ph: 021 4318222 Email: fordes@indigo.ie
Dara Gillespie (First Vice President) Finlays Funeral Service
Tierney Street Ardee, Co. Louth Mobile: 086 7923472 Email: dara.gillespie@finlaygrp.com
Robert Fanagan (Immediate Past President) Fanagans
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
Niamh Sweeney (Education Officer) John Sweeney and Sons
Fairgreen Arklow Co Wicklow Ph: 0402 32333 Email: niamh@johnsweeneyandsons.ie
Dermot McCarthy McCarthy’s Funeral Home
Gurrane, Banteer, Cork. Ph: 029 56044 Email: dermot@mccarthyfuneraldirectors. com
Edwina Fitzgerald Fitzgeralds Funeral Directors
Channel Road Rush Co. Dublin Ph: 087 3512949 Email: edwinafitzgerald78@gmail.com
Keith Greaney Conneely Funeral Directors
Flood Street Galway 091 562866 keithgreaney@gmail.com
Tom Lawless Lawless Funeral Directors
Mucklagh, Tullamore, Co. Offaly Ph: 057 9322622 Email: info@tullamorefunerals.ie
Kylie Gourley Funeral Partners Northern Ireland
300 Newtownards Road Belfast BT4 1HF Ph: 028 9045 1021 Email: kylie.gourley@funeralpartners.com
Benefits of joining Irish Association of Funeral Directors
• Membership of a professional organisation recognised by the general public • Board of funeral professionals available to assist members • Funeral director led organisation for promoting and developing standards of funeral service including a Code of Practice for all
Members • Representation of Members with Government, local authorities and media • Unique all island network of funeral directors • Professional Indemnity Insurance included as part of Membership fees • Dispute resolution and Mediation -including legal advisory service • Access to IAFD education programme • Links to other trade associations
New Delivery - Quinn Hearse and Limousine
