Covid-19: Funeral directors adapt after surviving pandemic anger ‘We had to act almost immediately to keep people safe . to keep the general public safe’
about 4 hours ago
Public relations officer for the Irish Association of Funeral Directors Mary Cunniffe:‘People have left their messages’ when it comes to condolences. Photograph: The Irish Times.
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A little more than a year ago, hundreds of Ireland’s funeral directors realised something others perhaps had not; long-held traditions would have to change because of the coronavirus pandemic and deaths it would cause.
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A Dublin funeral director says they ve seen some absolutely heartbreaking situations while COVID-19 restrictions have been in place.
For almost a year now, there have been strict limits on the numbers of mourners who can attend funerals.
During the first wave only six people could attend a service.
While that was
briefly increased to 25 people for a period last year, funerals have again been limited to just ten people during the ongoing lockdown.
As a result, many people have been unable to attend the funerals of friends or family, or have had to turn to livestreams to watch a service.
An Garda Síochána posted on their Facebook page a reminder that only 10 mourners are allowed to attend funerals and said there were other ways of offering support to the bereaved. The post attracted huge criticism online, some abusive, with comments accusing the gardaí of behaving like the Gestapo and clamping down on civil liberties, […]
Undertakers are used to navigating the rituals of death. They know how to help grieving families bade a final farewell to their loved ones and are well versed in the tradition of Irish funerals and wakes.
They, like the rest of Irish society, have had to adjust to a new way of doing things which has pushed them to the forefront of those facing the grim reality of the pandemic which nationally has claimed over 3,000 lives.
Since the New Year, they have been dealing with a large number of funerals for victims of COVID-19 as cases in Louth soared during this third wave.