Family Flowers Only by Grief Ireland

This week I sit down with Jemma Buttimer who shares the heartbreaking loss of her brother Desmond Hurley known to everyone as Des.Des was just 29 years old when he tragically lost his life in December 2023 while working aboard a fishing vessel off the southwest coast of Ireland. An experienced fisherman from Kinsale Des suffered a fatal injury following a fall on board the boat in circumstances later described at his inquest as a one-in-a-million tragedy.Jemma shares the devastating shock of losing her brother so suddenly, and we speak about the enormous impact a death like this can have on an entire family.This is a deeply moving conversation about sibling grief, sudden loss, and the heartbreak of trying to make sense of something so unexpected.A heartfelt conversation about love, family, and the lasting impact of losing someone far too soon.For tickets and more information on the Grief Workshop visit www.griefireland.com

This week I sit down with Noeleen Eustace, who shares the devastating story of losing her son Kelvin to suicide.Noeleen speaks about Kelvin’s struggles with both addiction and his mental health, and the years she spent desperately trying to get him the help he needed. She talks about the complexities of dual diagnosis and what it is like as a mother to keep fighting for your child when it feels like there is nowhere left to turn.She speaks with incredible honesty about losing Kelvin, the earth-shattering grief that has followed, and how you continue living when a part of you feels as though it died with your child.A raw and deeply emotional conversation about a mother’s love, the fight to get help, addiction, mental health and the unimaginable reality of losing a child to suicide.SUPPORT & SIGNPOSTINGThis episode discusses addiction, mental health difficulties and suicide. Please listen with care.Samaritans — Call 116 123 free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.Pieta — Support for suicidal thoughts, self-harm and suicide bereavement: 1800 247 247, or text HELP to 51444.HUGG — Support for anyone bereaved by suicide, including peer-support groups: HUGG.ie.HSE Drugs & Alcohol Helpline — Free and confidential support for anyone concerned about their own or somebody else’s drug or alcohol use: 1800 459 459.If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 112 or 999 or attend your nearest Emergency Department.

BONUS EPISODE - AFTER THE FLOWERSThis week I’m introducing something new to the podcast.....After the Flowers.These bonus episodes will be a little different. Each week I’ll take a question or topic that has come from you the listeners, something you might be struggling with, questioning or need a little help navigating, and bring it to two experts..therapist Peter Mahony of By Your Side Therapy and Rachel Gotto, clinical hypnotherapist and grief educator.For our first conversation we’re talking about family estrangement and the complicated grief that can come with it.What happens when you’re grieving someone that you had an estranged relationship with? How do you cope with the loss of the rest of the family, the guilt, anger and sadness that can come with estrangement and the fact that sometimes there simply isn't a simple solution?Peter and Rachel offer their professional perspectives as we have an open and very human conversation about a type of grief that isn't always recognised or understood.Find out more about Peter:By Your Side TherapyFind out more about Rachel:Rachel Gotto

This week I sit down with Gavin Hattie, who shares the story of his beautiful son Connor, who was diagnosed with the extremely rare Krabbe disease and sadly passed away on his first birthday.Gavin speaks about those precious months with Connor and the incredible support his family received from the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation during an unimaginable time.This September, Jack and Jill are asking people across Ireland to Power an Hour, because just €20 can provide one hour of vital in-home nursing care and respite for a family caring for a seriously ill child.This conversation is about Connor, about love and loss, but also about the difference it makes when a family has someone there to help carry them through the hardest days.💜 If you can, please support Power Hour for Jack and Jill. Every hour really does matter.Donate or get involved here : https://www.jackandjill.ie/power-hour

Every year I think its so important to give back. We never know when we will need the help. I just wanted to ask the listeners if they'd like to give a small donation if they have found the podcast helpful in anyway its a nice way to do a good deed for a worthy cause. If you feel compelled it would be so so SO appreciated.You can see the cause and do so here --> https://www.givewheel.com/fundraising/15491/5km-a-day-for-may-for-graham-lee/Thank you Kathie