In this episode, guests Niamh Donnelly, Occupational Therapy Manager and Lisa McGirr, Physiotherapy Manager from St Francis Hospice Dublin explain the many ways tailor-made Palliative Rehabilitation programmes can create gains in the quality of life for patients under their care.

SFH.ie

Aftering - What is Palliative Rehabilitation?

In this episode, the strange towering Irish memorials of the 19th century. Guest archeologist Isabel Bennett shares the story behind her piece in Archaeology Ireland magazine on how a medieval tower for monks was reimagined and built in the 1800s for a completely different function.

Further information:
Excavations.ie
ArchaeologyIreland.ie

Aftering - Towering Irish memorials of the 1800s

In this episode, digital afterlife researcher Dr Debra Bassett shares fascinating insights into the concept of 'digital zombies', why it's so important for tech companies to have an ethics code of conduct for storing the afterlives of the dead and how they are used. She explains that people need to have the rights over their digital afterlife protected with the equivalent of a 'Do Not Resuscitate' form so that they cannot be 'reanimated' to say and do things without consent after death. Dr Bassett also delves into the complexities for the bereaved to navigate this ever changing landscape where a deceased loved one can often have a presence in phones, social media and with companies offering post-death messaging services.

Aftering — Complexities of digital afterlives

In this episode, learning about the concept of solastalgia — the grief and loss felt when the environment around you is negatively changed. Dr Christopher Phillips is an academic with a special interest in climate change adaptation and environmental psychology. He shares what he's discovered researching how the people of Courtown, Co Wexford have adapted to its beautiful sandy beach experiencing severe coastal erosion and the protective rock armour installed to mitigate the damage.

Link to 'Solastalgia, place attachment and disruption: insights from a coastal community on the front line':
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10113-021-01778-y#Fig1

Aftering — Solastalgia

In this episode, folklorist and author Mattie Lennon joins me to share some of what he's learned from recent research into the process of home burial in Ireland. The guidance on being buried on your own land can be different from county to county and will also involve obtaining planning permission.
Mattie Lennon's work including his essays, plays, poetry and stories can be found at MattieLennon.com

Also on the programme is an interview with the founder of the Green Graveyard Company Colin McAteer who shares the background to Ireland's first green graveyard and how he set it up in Wexford.
More information from GreenGraveyard.com

Aftering — Planning permission and home burial

In this episode, speaking to the women behind an immersive art installation mourning those lost to Covid 19. Visual artist Miriam Mc Connon and poet Jessica Traynor explain how they are asking people to collaborate on the project by sharing their stories of lost loved ones. 

For this large outdoor installation, Miriam will be creating 10,000 'clooties' (fabric tied alongside holy wells) of white handkerchiefs to create lace patterns and Jessica will be writing four poems responding to the stories of loss shared by the public, the art of lacemaking and the idea of clooties in ancient Irish tradition. Her poems will be accessible via QR codes positioned around the artwork. It will be available to visit in Dublin's Iveagh Gardens from 15 October 2022 and will be open to the public for 10 days.

More information from LostLace.com

Aftering — Lost Lace

In this episode, exploring the moral dilemmas attached to the display of dead people and animals for museum curators.

Special guest @DrVerityBurke shares a brief history of anatomy museums and how some unscrupulous 18th & 19th century collectors used stolen bodies, as in the case of Derry's 'Irish Giant' Charles Byrne and even the remains of animals facing extinction during the time period. 

What are some ethical approaches available to museum curators today for legacy collections born from spoils of colonisation and empire?

Aftering — Museums and the display of the dead

In this episode, Caroline O'Sullivan is a specialist cancer nurse with the Irish Cancer Society and she shares advice on how and why it's so important to check your breasts regularly. 

In Ireland, cancer is the biggest killer and breast cancer is one of the top three (along with prostate and skin cancers). She outlines methods of checking and what to look for as well as sharing what supports are available to patients and their families.

More information from cancer.ie or via the Irish Cancer Society support line call — 1800 200 700

Aftering — Breast Cancer Awareness

In this episode, guest Bob Hendrickx shares how the world's first living coffin came to exist. He is an architect, bio-designer and the inventor of a process to grow sustainable coffins from mycelium. The boxes break down when buried and have the ability to enhance biodiversity and detoxify soil. 

More information: 
https://www.loop-of-life.com/

Aftering — Loop Living Coffins

In this episode, my guest is Irish Hospice Foundation's Arts and Creative Engagement Officer Dominic Campbell. He explains the background to its special Seed Grant. This fund is available to individuals and groups seeking to create art that helps explore universal themes of dying, death and bereavement.

More information:
https://hospicefoundation.ie/our-supports-services/ihf-in-the-community/arts-and-creativity/seeds-grants-2022/

Aftering — Irish Hospice Foundation Seed Grants 2022

In this episode – I got the chance to speak with Neltah Chadamoyo about Solo Sirens — an entirely female theatre-making and producing collective based in Tallaght. Solosirens created an innovative project exploring grief and loss. Supported by the Irish Hospice Foundation, it drew on the experiences of the group. The SoloSiren’s symposium 2022 was also part of this year’s Dublin Theatre Festival. Zimbabwean Neltah also shares traditions and culture around dealing with death and supporting the bereaved that she grew up with there.

Further information:
SoloSirens.info
https://hospicefoundation.ie/arts-and-creativity/dance-and-movement-map-experiences-of-loss/

Aftering — SoloSirens creative space to explore grief

In this episode, learning about the findings from a first-of-its-kind survey 
of people bereaved by suicide in Ireland. The survey seeks to understand the needs of the bereaved and hear their stories.

Dr Eve Griffin from the National Suicide Research Foundation joins me to share the background to 'AfterWords: A survey of people bereaved by suicide in Ireland' and the key findings in it.

It’s important to note that Pieta provides services to those who are thinking about suicide and those who have been bereaved by suicide.  
Their free 24-hour number is 1800 247 247

Also, Samaritans provide a 24-hour listening service, free of charge. 
Phone 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org

AfterWords: A survey of people bereaved by suicide in Ireland is available via the website nsrf.ie 

The direct link to the survey here:
https://www.nsrf.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Suicide-Bereavement-Survey-report_digital.pdf

A list of support organisations and organisations for people bereaved by suicide can be found on the HUGG website: www.hugg.ie

‘You are not alone: Support for people who have been bereaved by suicide’ is a guide which provides information on suicide bereavement and the supports available in Ireland. The guide was developed by people who have lost loved ones through suicide in conjunction with the HSE. 

A download of the guide can be found here: 
https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/4/mental-health-services/connecting-for-life/news/national-suicide-bereavement-support-guide.pdf

Aftering Dr Eve Griffin NSRF

In this episode, the 21st century approach to the memorial. Guest Jennifer Muldowney (AKA The Glam Reaper)is an expert who helps families design and organise meaningful memorial services. She has long experience working in the deathcare industry and runs several successful businesses providing a range of services.

Jennifer shares her insights into how she started out in Ireland working in this mainly male-dominated service. She is now based in New York so has seen how both cultural differences and deep human universal meaning shapes memorials across society.

Further information:
Podcast/Blog - www.theglamreaper.com
www.muldowneymemorials.com
@TheGlamReaper on Twitter and Tedx 2017
'Say Farewell Your Way' - a funeral planning guide for Ireland.

Irish Glass Memorial Jewellery line:
Humans - www.celtic-ashes.com
Pets - www.rainbowbridge-memorials.com

Aftering — The 21st Century Memorial

St Francis Hospice Raheny volunteer Doreen O'Dowda explains her varied work. Over the years, she has been a driver, a fundraiser, continues to help patients in the Intensive Palliative Unit and still knits chickens to help fund raise at Easter.

SFH Volunteer Stories: Doreen O Dowda Hospitality Volunteer

Matthew Larkin and Danielle Robinson of Dublin Ink on what compels an incredible range and variety of people to come through their doors for 'Trash Polka' art and very intimate body piercings. Why they draw a line at swastikas and how they protect customers from making mistakes they'll regret later (but if they do make one, they can provide the tattoo removing services too).

www.dublininktattoos.com
www.facebook.com/dublininktattoo
www.bodyartexpodublin.com 
www.facebook.com/bodyartexpodublin

Shop Talk: Dublin Ink - Intimate body piercing & photorealist tattoos are all in a day's work

Kritika Ashok tells the story of her business MyArtGallery.ie. How she started a company out of solving a problem. When she went looking to get a photo she had taken of a penguin on a holiday to Antarctica made into an original painting it was prohibitively expensive. So she now connects artists directly to people at a fair price. Since starting last year, she has found her customers have been commissioning paintings as anniversary gifts, weddings and most surprisingly of all, as memorials to deceased loved ones (see image).

myartgallery.ie
hello@myartgallery.ie
@myartgalleryie

ShopTalk: Kritika Ashok on changing how people buy art

Funeral Director Peadar Farrelly has no fear of death. He already knows that his own funeral will be a well planned celebration of his life's journey. For over 21 years he's seen many changes in attitudes. People want more personalised events. He has been asked to have 'Ring Of Fire' played during cremations, act as peacemaker for disconnected families and help parents explain death to small children.

More information:
www.farrellyfuneraldirectors.ie

Going Out In Style: What does a Funeral Director want for his funeral?

Design historian Mary Ann Bolger shares the complex and fascinating story of how the Irish Catholic Memorial Card was invented and how it grew to occupy such an important part of Irish cultural life.

Going Out In Style: Secret history of the Irish Catholic Memorial Card

Traditional Arts researcher Michelle Collins tells the fascinating story of keening in Ireland. She explains its origins and why it's such a powerful and important part of how people marked the death of a loved one. Michelle also shares why Ireland isn't the only country in the world to keen for its dead.

Going Out In Style: Moving history of keening at Irish wakes

Learn the fascinating history of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with special guest Karlin Lillington, founder of Irish Cavalier Rescue. We'll be discussing the unique health issues associated with the breed and how the scourge of puppy farming takes a cruel toll on these affectionate and intelligent canines.

www.facebook.com/IrishCavalierRescue

AnimalTalk: Irish Cavalier Rescue

This programme explores the fascinating story of the Irish funeral tradition. It traces its history from the neolithic to the present to find out what practices continued from the ancient world through the rise of the Catholic funeral rite to today's #FuneralSelfies. Historians, archeologists, folklorists and those who work in the death business shine a light on the Wake and its export to America, the forbidden practice of keening and the extraordinary sexualised funeral games played in rural Ireland.

I would like to sincerely thank all those who agreed to take part in the programme. Many thanks to Dr Maeve Sikora, Dr Ned Kelly, Dr Stephen Harrison, Dr Jenny Butler, Clodagh Doyle, Michelle Collins, Dr Laura Kelley, Michael Burke, Dr Ciaran Wallace, Dr Lisa Marie Griffith, Gus Nichols and Peadar Farrelly and Dublin City FM. 

Sound clip of Kitty Gallagher is From the Alan Lomax Collection at the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress. Used courtesy of the Association for Cultural Equity. http://research.culturalequity.org/home-audio.jsp

History Of The Irish Funeral

This programme goes behind the scenes in one of Ireland's busiest and biggest acute hospitals, Dublin's Mater Misericordiae University Hospital to find out about the 'hospice-friendly hospitals' initiative and the changes happening to help patients and their families at the end-of-life. In the image, Diarmuid Ó Coimín, the End-of-Life Care Coordinator, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital is standing with Mary Duffy, clinical nurse manager. They are holding one of the special blankets used to carefully drape the deceased which shows the spiral symbol designed to indicate end-of-life within the hospital.

Aftering - Behind the scenes at a hospice-friendly hospital

A visit to a traditional family-run monument maker reveals huge changes in how gravestones are produced. Shanganagh Marble and Stone Centre are one of the few businesses left still practising the craft of hand-carving. Fran and Colin O'Neill(pictured) share how they can cope with requests for 'teddy-bear' monuments to producing gravestones in Chinese for a new multi-cultural Ireland. Colin is a third-generation stonemason.

www.oneillsofshanganagh.ie

Aftering - dying art of hand-carved Irish gravestones

What is 'normal grief'? Caroline Lloyd has written a remarkable research-based book on grief for people who support the bereaved and also for the bereaved themselves. She explains the fascinating history of grief theory, the effects internet can have on bereaved and the terrible toll when a loss isn't acknowledged by society.

https://thegriefgeek.com/

https://www.easons.com/grief-demystified-caroline-lloyd-9781785923135

https://www.amazon.com/Grief-Demystified-Introduction-Caroline-Lloyd/dp/1785923137

Aftering - Grief Demystified

Dr Kevin Myers speaks about his fascinating research into changing attitudes to death in contemporary Ireland. How the role of the Catholic Church has evolved as Ireland shifts to a more secular society. We also discuss how technology is influencing bereavement. The rise of 'cyber solace' and how grief is policed online. He also points out the long tradition in Ireland of using humour as a way of coping with death and dying.

Aftering - understandings of death in contemporary Ireland

Little Nellie of Holy God is considered Cork's unofficial patron saint. In this episode, John Flynn, local historian and guide for Spike Island, shares her fascinating story. I went to visit the island in Cork Harbour to learn more about its history, both as a brutal Victorian prison and mass grave site that was also a home to Little Nellie. Why is this small girl – who died in 1908 – now on the road to Catholic sainthood?

SpikeIslandCork.ie

Aftering - Spike Island and Little Nellie Of Holy God

In this programme, learning about the art of the eulogy from an inner city Dublin funeral director and hearing about Ireland's newest crematorium. Dara O’Callaghan is general manager of Shannon Crematorium and shares the background story of how and why it was built. 

https://shannoncrematorium.com

Aftering - Ireland's newest crematorium

What does it mean to die? Marie Brett talks about her new filmic artwork - Last Breath. The artist collaborated with palliative care specialists and researched Irish folklore traditions to create this special piece. It reflects the liminal space between being alive and dead using soundscapes echoing the ancient Irish practice of keening and utilising evocative visuals. She explains what she learnt through making the piece. (A still from 'Last Breath' pictured above)

A Screening & Artist Discussion with Marie Brett - Last Breath takes place on Thursday 1 November 2018 / 6.30 – 8.00pm, Lecture Room, Irish Museum of Modern Art. 

More information here: http://www.imma.ie/en/page_237387.htm
MarieBrett.ie

Aftering - Marie Brett - Last Breath

The innovative initiative quietly changing the concept of end-of-life care in Irish hospitals for families, patients & staff. Guests Alice Anderson from the Irish Hospice Foundation and architect Ronan Rose Roberts share the back story to some of the challenging projects undertaken under the Design and Dignity and Hospice-Friendly Hospital initiative.

HospiceFoundation.ie

Aftering - Design & Dignity Hospice Friendly Hospitals

In this episode, UCC researcher Marian Caulfield shares her journey re-imagining the ancient practice of keening for 21st century Ireland. She also explores how lament might help change the way we approach mental health. Marian gives details of an upcoming three-day residential workshop – Learning To Cry Again – taking place in Bantry, Co Cork on April 26 2019. Details on Facebook: @PassionatePlanner and also @KeeningWorkshop

[16.41] My second guest is Jason Leach from AndVinyly. He's created a very special business accidentally. It came from developing a way of pressing vinyl records that include small amounts of cremated remains contained within them. He was looking to create a special record for his loved ones but found the idea quickly captured the public imagination. 
AndVinyly.com

Aftering - Re-imagining keening plus the story of Andvinyly

I got the chance to visit the Irish Museum of Modern Art to go behind the scenes of a major new exhibition of internationally-renowned Colombian artist Doris Salcedo. IMMA's Claire Power walks me through the gallery sharing the background behind the pieces exploring profound themes of memorial and loss. 'Acts of Mourning' brings together six bodies of work exploring how we remember and acknowledge victims of violence.

[Pictured: Atrabiliarios (1996) Doris Salcedo - courtesy of IMMA.ie]
https://imma.ie/whats-on/doris-salcedo-acts-of-mourning-exhibition/

Aftering - Acts Of Mourning - Doris Salcedo

Story of extraordinary Jewish cemetery in Ballybough. Edwin Alkin, chairman of The Irish Jewish Museum shares its amazing history dating from 1714 and explains the ancient traditions involved in Jewish funerals. Dublin City Council is set to protect & restore this valuable part of Dublin's heritage.

https://jewishmuseum.ie

Aftering - Extraordinary story of Dublin's Jewish Cemetery in Ballybough

How do you live with grief? I’m joined by Melanie Leamy whose husband Paul tragically died 16 months ago. She has been writing a deeply honest blog sharing her recent experiences. This conversation follows on from our previous programme where she shared how she and Paul met, married, dealt with his terminal cancer and ultimately the end of his life. 

Melanie explains what she's learnt since then and shares how she is doing on her grief journey so far. She has found that her attitudes to life and even her choice of career has been reshaped in its aftermath. 

More information about Melanie Leamy on her site - HealingWell.ie
She's at melanie @ healingwell.ie and on Twitter as @HealingWell1

Aftering - Melanie Leamy - living with grief - Part Two

There’s a national crisis that has been going on for some time in Ireland. Travellers are identified as a ‘high-risk’ group for suicide and 82% of the community have been affected by it. 

Eileen Flynn from the National Traveller Women's Forum shares the stories behind the statistics and what life is like for a Traveller in 21st century Ireland.

If you have been affected by anything in this programme, help and support is available by calling the Samaritans 24-hour helpline 116123 or emailing jo@samaritans.org

Aftering - Suicide in the Traveller community

The Green Burial Society of Canada have been striving to quantify what makes a green burial actually ‘green’. It equips people with the information to choose environmentally sustainable death practices. In this episode, five members of the Green Burial Society of Canada – Emily Bootle, Dawn Carson, Ellen Newman, Mark Richardson and board president Catriona Hearn join me on the line from across an array of time zones – from Vancouver to Nova Scotia – to share their experiences with green burial in Canada.

You can find the Green Burial Society of Canada on Facebook and Instagram.
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/greenburialcanada/
Instagram - @greenburialcanada
Website - www.greenburialcanada.ca 

Dawn Carson/Death Matters/Green Burial Nova Scotia is also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and via her website deathmatters.ca
FaceBook - https://www.facebook.com/www.DeathMatters/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/DeathMatters_NS
Instagram -  https://www.instagram.com/deathdouladawn/?hl=en
Website - https://deathmatters.ca/ 

Catriona Hearn, LEES+Associates: 
Twitter - https://twitter.com/elacstudio?lang=en 
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/leesandassociates 
LinkedIn - https://ca.linkedin.com/company/lees-associates

Aftering - Green Burial Society Of Canada

What Dr Pádraig MacCarron discovered when he and Dr Gerard McCarthy analysed Irish death notice data and how they found unexpected patterns county by county.

Although not all deaths in Ireland are associated with Covid-19, it’s extremely useful to be able to map the effect that the virus has been having across the country in real time. 

Dr Gerard McCarthy is a lecturer in the Department of Geography at Maynooth University. Dr Pádraig MacCarron is an applied mathematician and Complex Networks Researcher at the University of Limerick.

https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2020/0505/1136496-death-notices-ireland-coronavirus/

Aftering - Learning about Covid-19 from death notices

How Roma and Travellers are disproportionately affected by Covid-19 in Ireland. These marginalised groups can't easily self-isolate and can find access to washing facilities very challenging. Martin Collins is co-founder of Pavee Point. He explains the very difficult circumstances these groups endure including homelessness, poverty and racism.

PaveePoint.ie

Aftering - How Covid-19 disproportionately affects Irish Travellers and Roma

On this programme, I’m joined by Paula Lawlor from Suicide or Survive to talk about the work of the organisation, to learn about their free wellness webinars and hear about an innovative programme to enable people to regain mental health. 

Please seek help if you are suffering from suicidal thoughts and feelings. Dublin Samaritans offer a free number from any phone 116 123

Suicideorsurvive.ie

Aftering - Suicide Or Survive's Eden Programme

Mortality & us. Talking to a wide range of special guests exploring the past, present & future of dealing with death. Aftering radio is on Dublin City FM on Mondays at 2pm in Ireland, plus more info on the show's sister site – aftering.com. Live streaming available via dublincityfm.ie

Aftering_podcasts

Popular tracks