Family Flowers Only by Grief Ireland

I caught up remotely with Eimear and Alan who I recorded a full episode with back in April. They spoke so honestly about the devastation of loosing their precious daughter Keeley and today we caught up about how they have been since the podcast aired, how different their Christmas now looks, what they do to honour and celebrate Keeley around Christmas and just reflections on Grief in general. I do hope this conversation will help those who are struggling today x

This week I sit down with Clara Gardiner who shares the heartbreaking story of losing her younger sister Jemma. Jemma lived with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, and while she was a bright, bubbly, and deeply loved girl, her death following a medical procedure came as a devastating shock. She died from sepsis.Clara speaks openly about how misunderstood her sister’s passing was and how that added another layer of pain to their loss. She also shares her own experience of grief, the numbness, the fear of not being able to cry or feel anything at all, and the realisation that grief doesn’t always look the way we expect it to.It’s a deeply honest conversation about sibling loss, love, and learning to trust your own way of grieving.For more information on grief retreats and support, visit www.griefireland.com.

This week I sit down with Peter Shelley who shares the heartbreaking story of losing his baby daughter Aodhla suddenly at just eight weeks old to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).Peter speaks honestly about the shock of that loss, the devastation that followed, and what it’s like to grieve the death of a child as a parent particularly from a father’s perspective. We talk about how grief can look different for mums and dads, the silence men often carry, and the importance of speaking openly about their pain.Peter now hosts his own podcast Dads Don’t Cry continuing the conversation around grief and childloss.

This week I sit down with Hazellynn Doyle, who speaks so openly about the devastating loss of her dad Derek.He died instantly in a tragic road accident when a HGV lorry made a left-hand turn while he was cycling home from work a week before Christmas.Hazel shares the shock of that day, the grief that followed, and the pain of not being able to say goodbye as his coffin had to remain closed. Her honesty, love, and strength shine through every part of this conversation.For more information on grief retreats and support, visit www.griefireland.com.

This week I sit down with Shannon Gallagher who shares the heartbreaking story of losing her partner Eoin to suicide. Shannon speaks with incredible honesty about the shock and trauma of the day she found him and the profound impact that moment has had on her life.She opens up about the PTSD that followed, the fear in the early days, and the long difficult road of trying to understand a loss that can never fully make sense.It’s a deeply emotional and courageous conversation, shining a light on the reality so many people live with behind closed doors and the importance of compassion, support, and speaking openly about mental health.For more information on grief retreats and support, visit www.griefireland.com.