42 | November 19, 2011
FEATURE
The Irish Post
The Irish Post
November 19, 2011 | 43
FEATURE
Repatriating a loved one back to a final resting place in Ireland
Burying a loved one back home
The Green Graveyard Company THE Irish people living abroad talk about having their final resting place back in the “old sod”. They talk about a quiet resting place — a green place with trees, flowers and wildlife in abundance. Traditional Irish cemeteries often fall a long way short of these wishes. With the setting up of Ireland’s first Natural Burial Ground this wish can now become a reality. Those behind the venture will even organise to collect the deceased person from anywhere in the world and take them home one final time. Colin McAteer is the owner of Ireland’s first natural burial ground. “One of the main concerns that people have is how they were physically going to get to Ireland to be buried at our Natural Burial Grounds,” he said. “We are actually funeral directors and will, if required, assist with this process. This seems to ease a lot of worries people have and we have assisted a number of families in this way.” The Green Graveyard Company’s existing natural burial ground is located on the Wexford/Carlow border, about one hour’s drive from Dublin. “We also have two other sites in the planning process in Cork and Galway,” Mr McAteer said. “People booking at any of our grounds can change the location of their booking to any of the newly created NBG’s once they come on stream. Natural Burial Grounds allow people to use their passing from this world in a very positive environmentally friendly manner by helping with the creation of a nature reserve. This natural cemetery really is, as the old song goes ‘the green, green grass of home’.” Further information is available at www.greengraveyard.com. Also see www.greencoffinsireland.com for Irish-made willow coffins.
IT’S a sad procedure to have to contemplate, but it’s one that many in our community have had to face over the years — and will continue to face: repatriating the body of a loved one back to Ireland so that he or she can rest in peace in their own native soil. But what is the proper procedure when that sad occasion happens and the body of a loved one needs to be transported from Britain — or elsewhere in Europe? The first vital step is to consult a local doctor to confirm the person is deceased and provide a death certificate. This fulfils the need for the death to be registered in the country where the person passed away, which is a legal requirement. This procedure is roughly similar throughout EU countries, and is almost identical in both Ireland and Britain, and for Irish passport holders and British passport holders. If your loved one is officially domiciled in Britain, then identification followed by the issuing of a death certificate will be relatively straightforward. If however, the death has occurred elsewhere in Europe, rules on who may formally identify a deceased person can vary. Usually, however, identification may be carried out by a travelling companion, workmate or business colleague of the deceased. But, depending on local laws and rules, it may be necessary for a family member to travel to the place where the deceased is, to confirm the identity. The Irish Embassy in the country concerned will be able to advise on local specifications. The Embassy will also be able to: (a) assist with procuring documents such as death certificates or medical or police reports; (b) assist relatives to appoint a local undertaker; (c) arrange to have the next of kin of the deceased informed by the Garda Síochána; (d) assist relatives to communicate with the police and other authorities. If you are domiciled in Britain, the Embassy does not need to be informed,
WHAT IS A NATURAL BURIAL GROUND OR GREEN GRAVEYARD? In its most simplistic form a natural burial ground is a graveyard where the land has a second use, as a living, developing native Irish woodland. Gone are the marble headstones and concrete surrounds that are commonplace in other Irish burial grounds, replaced instead by a small simple grave marker and the planting of a native Irish tree. Visitors will be able to walk along the pathways surrounded by nature, spotting wildlife in their newly created habitats. These natural burial grounds will be sacred and natural places where people of all faiths and those without any religion will find a beautiful resting place. In choosing a natural or green burial you will be creating, conserving and sustaining native Irish woodland. It is a gift that will keep on giving to future generations.
WOODBROOK NATURAL BURIAL GROUND Ireland’s First Natural Burial Ground was officially opened on October 2010. This beautiful site which sits at the foot of the Blackstairs mountains is situated at grounds adjacent to Woodbrook House, Killane Co. Wexford, close to the Carlow border. Entrance to the burial ground is via a 200metre-long avenue, surrounded on both sides by ancient chestnut trees. This avenue is lined with magnificent granite sculptures by local artists including Niall Deacon. The burial ground will become a beautiful place where family and friends can visit to remember their loved ones and view wildlife in its newly created habitat.
OTHER NATURAL BURIAL GROUNDS The Green Graveyard Company hope to open more natural burial grounds in coming years, making natural burial a “closer to home” option for everyone in Ireland. Planning permission is currently being sought for a Natural Burial Ground in Cork and Galway. Colin McAteer Green Coffins Ireland Ltd The Green Graveyard Company Ltd Tel: 00353 749152712 Website: www.greencoffinsireland.com
Eamonn A. Kennedy Funeral Directors Established in 1986 we are a small, private, independent and familyowned funeral directors who take great care of all aspects of funerals. The company is owned and run by Eamonn Kennedy and his wife Geraldine, and David Scanlan who is also a very capable funeral director. “As funeral directors we are on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 52 weeks of the year,” Eamonn Kennedy said. “St Patrick’s Chapel of Rest in a small private chapel where families and friends can come to pay their respects to the deceased. If requested, the deceased can be respectfully viewed at home where this is possible. We can cater for all types of funerals from the most basic to the most elaborate. Every funeral is carried out with great dignity and respect for the deceased and also the bereaved families,” he added. The company specialises in traditional horse-drawn funerals and runs a fleet of classic Daimler DS420 hearses and limousines. “We undertake a number of Irish funerals every year both in Manchester and also by repatriating human remains back to all parts of Ireland,” Mr Kennedy said. “The remains are usually transported by air from Manchester to Dublin or Birmingham to Knock. Generally, families like to travel on the same flight as the remains where possible. We have also repatriated remains to Ireland by ferry from Liverpool to Dublin and Holyhead to Dublin. We also import coffins and caskets from Ireland and a particular
favourite with the Irish people is the Last Supper Coffin. For those thoughtful people willing and brave enough to make their own funeral arrangement before they pass away we offer prepaid funeral plans and we are agents for Golden Charter.” For personal attention with a caring, understanding and professional approach offering a full 24-hour service and private chapel of rest, please don’t hesitate to contact Eamonn A. Kennedy Funeral Directors, 390 Palatine Road, Northenden, Manchester, M22 4FZ. Tel: 0161 945 2097
C&L Memorials C&L Memorials is a family business that helps to give comfort to the bereaved through their Memorial Lights service. Memorial Lights allow a living flame to burn continuously for 7-10 days in all weathers. The lights are a one-off purchase and only require the additional cost of a candle. The burning candle allows you to see the effect immediately rather than a solar candle, which is only effective depending on what light gets to it. Knowing that the warmth and glow of the candle is burning day and night is a comfort to those who have been bereaved. These lights are popular for Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries or marking a grave prior to a headstone. Memorial Lights can also be purchased to build into a headstone. Others have been used in gardens as a small personal tribute to a loved one who has passed away. C&L Memorials are based in Glasgow. Tel: 01355 904150 Email: clmemorials@fsmail.net Website: www.clmemorials-lights.co.uk
and any involvement would merely represent another, probably unnecessary, stage to go through. The arrangements that need to be made after the issuance of a death certificate can be complex, and although there is no legal requirement to do so, probably the best course of action next is to a appoint a funeral director. This is someone whose business is to prepare the dead for burial and to arrange and manage funerals. Services of funeral directors obviously come at a price, so you should check fees and costs associated with the process, including transportation. In general the cost of repatriating the body of a loved one back to Ireland from Britain
is in the region of £1,500. As well as giving valuable advice about the logistics of transporting your loved one’s remains, the director would complete the process of gathering the necessary documentation. As well as the death certificate these include a “free from infection” certificate and an embalming certificate. In addition, those wishing to transport a loved one across an international border (ie from Britain to Ireland) need to provide the person’s passport or a photocopy of it. The cost of repatriation can be, in some cases, covered by an insurance policy — so it’s always worth checking the policies very carefully. If the person doesn’t have a travel or personal insurance policy it is also worth exploring other avenues. For example
credit cards, in the small print, have insurance provided for emergency situations both in Britain and elsewhere in Europe. But of course for the majority of people, repatriation will be from the loved one’s home here in Britain. The procedures are the same, with the documentation being identical to those for a temporary visitor from Ireland. The usual mode of transportation is by air — it is uncommon for bodies to be repatriated by sea, rail or road because as it would prove very expensive and unpractical. However, if for some specific reason the loved one expressly wanted their last journey to be overland and by sea, in such instances the same documentation is needed and it is best to check with the carrier whether they would be prepared to transport a coffin. Under regulations imposed by the International Air Transport Association, coffins being used for repatriation must be lined with zinc to create a hermetic seal. Zinc is used because it doesn’t prevent checks by X-ray machines, which are a necessary part of airline security. In the case of people who have been cremated, the urn containing ashes must be hermetically sealed but it doesn’t have to be zinc-lined. These strictures would also be adhered to by sea carriers. All funerals are stressful times, and when the process also includes repatriating a body across an international border, then the task can be daunting. But it’s important to remember that it is, sadly, a well-trodden path. The whole process can take days, but funeral directors and carriers are very experienced in the process and will help you every step of the way. It is a sad time, but the knowledge that you have carried out your loved one’s last wish will be at least some comfort.