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Condolence Books - Printed and Bound

Mini Condolence Books - Printed and Bound

RIP.ie Sympathy cards

RIP.ie Acknowledgement cards

Condolence Book for Home Printing

RIP.ie Candles

Ogham Wishes

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Hand-carved Celtic Wall Hangings

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RIP.ie Care Package

Easter Blessings Card

Mounted original design prints, inspired by the early Irish Celtic illuminated manuscript, The Book of Kells.

Ogham writing is Ireland's ancient script. Hand-painted, stylish wall hangings. For indoor use.

Sometimes words fall short. These thoughtfully curated boxes are a gentle way to send sympathy, comfort, and a caring embrace when it matters most.

<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif"><i>Becoming a parent is a wonderful and life-changing event, and for single parents, the responsibility can feel even greater. </i></span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">One of the most important steps you can take to protect your child’s future is to make a will. A well-drafted will ensures that your wishes are respected and that your child is cared for, both emotionally and financially, should anything happen to you. Here are the key considerations for single parents when making a will.</span></p><h3 style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Appointing a Guardian</span></h3><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Perhaps the most crucial decision for a single parent is appointing a guardian for your child. This is the person who will take on parental responsibility if you pass away before your child turns 18.</span></p><ul><li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Choose Carefully: Consider who shares your values, has a good relationship with your child, and is willing and able to take on the role.</span></li><li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Discuss Your Choice: Speak to your chosen guardian beforehand to ensure they are comfortable with the responsibility.</span></li><li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Name a Substitute: It is helpful to name an alternative guardian in case your first choice is unable or unwilling to act when the time comes.</span></li></ul><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">The legislation in this area is the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964. Section 6 of the Act provides that, on the death of the parent of an infant, any surviving parent shall be the guardian either alone or jointly with any guardian appointed under a Will. Section 7 of this Act specifies that the guardian named under the Will (testamentary guardian) shall act alongside any surviving parent as joint guardians. Either the testamentary guardian or a surviving parent can apply to court for orders pertaining to the custody of the infant.</span></p><h3 style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Financial Provision for your Child</span></h3><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">You will want to ensure that your child is financially secure. This involves deciding how your assets will be managed and distributed.</span></p><ul><li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Trusts for Minors: Children under 18 cannot inherit directly. You can set up a trust in your will, specifying how and when your child should receive their inheritance.</span></li><li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Appointing Trustees: Trustees manage the assets on behalf of your child until they reach the age you specify (often 18 or 21). Choose people you trust to act in your child’s best interests.</span></li><li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Specific Gifts: You may wish to leave particular items or sums of money to your child or others.</span></li></ul><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">You will also need to appoint an executor(s). This is the person(s) who carry out your wishes. They can be the same people as the trustees.</span></p><h3 style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Letter of Wishes</span></h3><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">While not legally binding, a letter of wishes can accompany your will. This document can provide guidance to guardians and trustees about how you would like your child to be raised, educated, or supported. </span></p><h3 style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Reviewing your Will</span></h3><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Circumstances change over time. Review your will regularly, especially if there are changes in your family situation, finances, or if your chosen guardian’s circumstances change. </span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">It is also important to let your executor, trustees, guardian know where your original Will is stored - and perhaps retain a copy at home.</span></p><h3 style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Conclusion</span></h3><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Making a will as a single parent can be complex, particularly when trusts and guardianship are involved. It’s advisable to speak to your solicitor to ensure your will is valid and reflects your wishes accurately.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif"><i>Elaine Byrne is a solicitor with Elaine Byrne Solicitors in Athboy, County Meath</i></span></p><p><span style="color:black;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif"><strong>Disclaimer: </strong>Please note that this article is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be legal advice. While every care has been taken in its production, no legal responsibility or liability is accepted warranted or implied by the author, publishers or the Law Society of Ireland in respect of any errors, omissions or misstatement. Readers are advised to seek independent professional legal advice before acting on anything in this article.   </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif"> </span></p>

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Making a Will as a Single Parent: Key Legal and Practical Considerations

<p>When a person dies after spending the final months or years in a nursing home, there may be a debt to the nursing home which will be due for payment.</p><p>These outstanding debts may cause stress for spouses, children and family members of the deceased. The following is a short guide to the way nursing home debts are treated in Ireland.<br />If in doubt, get independent legal and financial advice.</p><h3>Responsibility for Nursing Home Debt</h3><p>In Ireland, nursing home debt is the responsibility of the deceased's estate and is paid after their death by their personal representative (executor or administrator).</p><p>If the deceased was in the <a href="https://www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/fair-deal-scheme/about/">Fair Deal Scheme</a>, any outstanding loan facility from the HSE must be repaid from the estate (funded by the sale of the deceased’s property), usually:</p><ul><li>Within 12 months of death, or</li><li>Within 6 months if the home was sold (prior to passing away) or transferred.</li></ul><p>Nursing homes and the HSE can claim unpaid fees from the estate. If the estate is insolvent (has insufficient assets), these debts may go unpaid.</p><h4>The Deceased's Estate is Responsible for Outstanding Debts</h4><ul><li>Personal Representative: The executor (if there was a will) or administrator (if there was no will – known as dying intestate) will gather all the assets of the deceased.</li><li>Insolvent Estate: If the estate's assets aren't enough to cover the funeral expenses, administration costs, and debts, it is considered insolvent.</li><li>No Obligation for Children: Children of the deceased are not typically obligated to pay nursing home debts unless they were a guarantor for the debt or the debt was in their name as well. If the estate is insufficient to cover debts, the beneficiaries typically do not have to pay them personally.</li></ul><h4>Fair Deal Scheme and Loan Repayment</h4><ul><li>Loan Postponement: Under the Fair Deal Scheme, the HSE pays nursing home fees, and a loan can be taken out based on assets like property, with repayment postponed until after the person's death.</li><li>Repayment Timeline: This loan must be repaid within 12 months of the person's death, or within 6 months if their property is sold or transferred at any point.</li><li>Interest: If the loan is not repaid by the due date, interest will be charged from the date of death.</li></ul><h4>Process of Paying Debts</h4><ol><li>Funeral and Administration Expenses: The first priority is to pay for the funeral and the expenses of managing the estate.</li><li>Preferential Debts: Next are preferential debts like taxes.</li><li>Ordinary Debts: Finally, other ordinary debts, such as nursing home fees and other unsecured debts (like credit cards and loans), are paid from any remaining assets.</li></ol><h4>If There Are No Assets</h4><ul><li>If the deceased has no assets, the debts cannot be paid, and the creditors will likely have to write off the debt.</li><li>The HSE and other creditors cannot claim the debt from the family of the deceased unless they are legally responsible for it.</li></ul><h3>What You Should Do</h3><ul><li>Contact the Executor/Administrator: If you are a family member, you should contact the personal representative to understand the estate's financial status.</li><li>Contact the Nursing Home: They will have details of any outstanding debts owing or that may not have been covered by the Fair Deal if the deceased was in the scheme.</li><li>Contact the HSE: If you are unsure about the Fair Deal loan or the outstanding fees, contact the Health Service Executive (HSE) for clarity.</li><li>Contact <a href="https://www.mabs.ie/">MABS</a>: For further information, MABS – The Money Advice and Budgeting Service.</li><li>Fair Deal: <a href="https://www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/fair-deal-scheme/about/">About the Fair Deal scheme.</a></li></ul><p> </p>

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What Happens to Nursing Home Debts After a Person Passes Away

<p>As we enter the final stretch of the <a href="https://ripremembers.rip.ie/campaign/rip-ie-remembers">RIP.ie Remembers Walk</a>, the generosity of families, friends, and communities across Ireland has already created a wave of compassion that is being felt nationwide. Together, walkers and supporters have raised an extraordinary <strong>€63,829</strong> so far. Each euro is a tribute, each step is a remembrance, and each donation is a lifeline for someone in need.</p><p>As we approach the end of the month, this is the perfect moment to pause, reflect, and celebrate the real and tangible impact your support is making.</p><h3><strong>What Your Donations Are Achieving</strong></h3><p>Every contribution, big or small, is helping charities provide comfort, dignity, and vital care to people facing some of life's hardest moments. Here is how your fundraising is already making a difference.</p><h3><strong>Hospice Care</strong></h3><p>Your support is helping hospices offer:</p><ul><li>Specialist end of life care</li><li>Home visits for families who wish to remain together</li><li>Bereavement counselling and support groups</li><li>Peaceful and dignified environments for patients in their final days</li></ul><h3><strong>Health and Heart Support</strong></h3><p>Funds raised for national health charities are enabling:</p><ul><li>Lifesaving cardiac research</li><li>Rapid response community heart services</li><li>Patient education and rehabilitation programmes</li><li>Support lines for families navigating illness</li></ul><h3><strong>Cancer Care and Research</strong></h3><p>Your donations are helping to:</p><ul><li>Fund cancer nurses who support families through diagnosis and treatment</li><li>Provide transport services for patients travelling to appointments</li><li>Support pioneering research that brings hope for better outcomes</li></ul><p>This is the real power of community. You are turning remembrance into action and grief into something quietly transformative.</p><h3><strong>Top 5 Charities Supported So Far</strong></h3><p>The RIP.ie community has rallied behind dozens of charities. These five have seen the highest levels of support to date.</p><figure class="table"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Charity</strong></th><th><strong>Amount Raised</strong></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.sfh.ie/"><strong>St. Francis Hospice</strong></a></td><td><strong>€12,400</strong></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://marymount.ie/"><strong>Marymount University Hospice</strong></a></td><td><strong>€6,970</strong></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://irishheart.ie/"><strong>Irish Heart Foundation</strong></a></td><td><strong>€6,755</strong></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://www.kerryhospice.com/about"><strong>Kerry Hospice Foundation</strong></a></td><td><strong>€5,469</strong></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://www.cancer.ie/"><strong>Irish Cancer Society</strong></a></td><td><strong>€5,425</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p> </p><p>Each of these organisations plays a vital role in supporting families at moments of profound vulnerability. Your fundraising is helping them continue that work with compassion and dignity.</p><h3><strong>A Community Walking With Purpose</strong></h3><p>The <a href="https://rip.ie/grief-and-bereavement-support/ripie-remembers-walk-what-it-is-and-how-to-register-305">RIP.ie Remembers Walk </a>is more than a fundraiser. It is a shared act of remembrance. Every name carried, every candle lit, and every step taken honours someone loved and missed. Through your efforts, their memory is helping others find comfort, care, and hope.</p><p>There is still time to:</p><ul><li>Share your fundraising page</li><li>Invite others to join the walk</li><li>Dedicate a step, a KM, or a moment to someone special</li></ul><p><i><strong>Together, we can make this final stretch count. Sign up or make a donation</strong></i><a href="https://ripremembers.rip.ie/campaign/rip-ie-remembers"><i><strong> here</strong></i></a><i><strong>. </strong></i></p>

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Your Impact in Numbers: How Donations Are Changing Lives

<p style="margin-left:0px;text-align:justify">Across Ireland, people are taking part in <a href="https://ripremembers.rip.ie/campaign/rip-ie-remembers">RIP.ie Remembers</a> this March. <a href="https://rip.ie/grief-and-bereavement-support/the-healing-power-of-walking-how-walking-supports-mental-and-emotional-health-during-grief-326">Walking in memory</a> of their loved ones, raising funds for incredible charities, and contributing to a <a href="https://rip.ie/grief-and-bereavement-support/planting-hope-how-your-walk-helps-grow-a-greener-future-328">lasting environmental legacy</a>. Many have been <a href="https://rip.ie/grief-and-bereavement-support/how-to-share-your-story-tips-for-posting-with-ripremembers-327">sharing their stories</a> and progress through the month. A meaningful way to continue to honour the memory of someone special while also allowing others to connect and feel less alone in their times of grief.</p><p style="margin-left:0px;text-align:justify">In the first 2 weeks, we walked 2824 km, planted 276 sq. ft of woodland, and raised over €58,000. Behind these numbers are personal stories and loving moments of remembrance.</p><p style="margin-left:0px;text-align:justify">This article shares a few highlights from the community. These highlights come from participants who chose to share a photo, short clip, or a few words. We are grateful for every story shared so far.</p><p style="margin-left:0px;text-align:justify"> </p><p style="margin-left:0px;text-align:center"><span style="font-size:18px"><strong>Participant Highlights</strong></span></p><figure class="table" style="width:97.56%"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:29.93%"></col><col style="width:70.07%"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:97.95%"><img src="https://img-dedicated.rip.ie/Screenshot_2026-03-16_143909_55c9236ae9a89095da525f42ad23c42d82afa9078b7800ff.png" /><figcaption>Cara Byrne (@thehikepysch) and John Boalnd (@bolandjohn0) sharing a reminder for their evening RIP.ie Remembers walk. Encouraging others to join them and walk in remembrance for loved ones.</figcaption></figure></td><td><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:98.3%"><img src="https://img-dedicated.rip.ie/646401953_1638846300868773_1407584005753316786_n_de537ba792e37f9b0d17e7871dddcd67e30ddef161c99826.jpg" /><figcaption><i>The Hike Psych - Wednesday Wanderers's team gathered in Glencullen for a second walk in remembrance. Thank you for walking. </i>Hike Psych is walking in RIP.ie Remembers to celebrate the memory of Wednesday Wanderers Lost Loved Ones, while raising funds for Barretstown.<br /> </figcaption></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://img-dedicated.rip.ie/Screenshot_2026-03-16_143615_f380722ddc945a600ad203f1a8e449cf0df1efc7cd531164.png" /><figcaption><i>Thank you to @conorsclips.andrew for sharing an update from their evening walk. A great turnout and a strong sense of community.</i><br /> </figcaption></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://img-dedicated.rip.ie/Screenshot_2026-03-16_143422_a681aabfb5a7f88637be465eb8ad44525f87c56bd0776449.png" /><figcaption><i>Sophie Bell (@sophie_bell__) is walking 20 km this March in memory of Harrison. A beautiful way to honour someone who was a big part of her childhood and teenage years.</i></figcaption></figure><figure class="table" style="width:98.04%"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:49.62%"></col><col style="width:50.38%"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td><figure class="image image_resized image-style-block-align-right" style="width:76.26%"><img src="https://img-dedicated.rip.ie/Screenshot_2026-03-16_161403_470daee2da5875ac09abbd9ac541fe903f33fb4f789f81dd.png" /><figcaption><i>Thank you to Encore Occasions for sharing next Sunday’s remembrance plan. A performance with an ensemble of 12, followed by the final 8 km of the RIP.ie Remembers Walk.</i></figcaption></figure></td><td><figure class="image image_resized image-style-block-align-left" style="width:76.64%"><img src="https://img-dedicated.rip.ie/Screenshot_2026-03-16_161414_0fc098f4f5527c1227d8b6aa4498a5abe72a3a43d0b305b4.png" /><figcaption><i>An early morning check‑in from Encore Occasions. Walking in remembrance and raising awareness for Breast Cancer Ireland.</i></figcaption></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p> </p><p style="text-align:justify">Thank you for every step and every story. If you would like to share your walk, please post a photo, a short clip or a one-line note. Tag <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rip.ie.official">@RIP.ie.official</a> on Instagram or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RIP.ieDeathNotices/">@RIP.ie</a> on Facebook and use <strong>#RIPRemembers</strong> so we can find it. There is still time to join the RIP.ie Remembers Walk for the rest of March. You can register on our website. Find the link <a href="https://ripremembers.rip.ie/campaign/rip-ie-remembers/register.html">here</a><a href> </a>to set up your fundraising page today. Thank you for walking, remembering and supporting one another.</p>

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Participant Highlights: Walking Together in Remembrance

<figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://share.transistor.fm/e/025865ee"><div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:390px;height:0"><iframe src="https://share.transistor.fm/e/025865ee" style="position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%;top:0;left:0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></figure><p><strong>Proudly sponsored by An Post Insurance</strong></p><p>The<a href="https://partingwordspodcast.transistor.fm/episodes/episode-3-miriam-o-callaghan-on-anger-faith-and-choosing-joy"> third episode of <i>Parting Words</i>,</a> our new RIP.ie podcast, brings listeners into a conversation that is both deeply personal and unexpectedly uplifting. Broadcaster <a href="https://partingwordspodcast.transistor.fm/episodes/episode-3-miriam-o-callaghan-on-anger-faith-and-choosing-joy">Miriam O’Callaghan</a> joins host Muireann O’Connell to reflect on the two losses that changed the course of her life: the death of her sister Anne at just 33, and the sudden passing of their father only weeks later.</p><p>What unfolds is a conversation filled with honesty, humour and the kind of clarity that only comes from lived experience. Miriam speaks with a gentleness that never hides the truth, and a strength that never slips into hardness.</p><p><strong>“Life doesn’t treat you fairly”</strong></p><p>Miriam recalls the moment she realised how suddenly life can turn. Standing in a hospital lift the day before Anne died, she watched her father whisper, “We’re losing the jewel in our crown.” In that instant, she says, something in her shifted. The belief that good people are somehow protected from tragedy fell away.</p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%"><img src="https://img-dedicated.rip.ie/Anne_18d297e22f7aee3446a47b3897a2cc8602f0729fb198ecd1.png" /></figure><p>She speaks openly about the anger that followed — anger at life, and even at God. It’s a rare admission from someone known for her optimism, but it’s delivered without hesitation. “I had never felt anger like it,” she says. “It changed me.”</p><p><strong>A graveside promise</strong></p><p>In the days that followed, Miriam found herself standing at her sister’s grave, making a decision that would shape the rest of her life. “This is it,” she remembers thinking. “Life is not for messing around.” From that moment, she resolved to live fully, love deeply and waste no time on anything that didn’t matter.</p><p>It’s a philosophy that has stayed with her for three decades.</p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%"><img src="https://img-dedicated.rip.ie/Miriam_and_Anne__c8d81a0c93af717004b1317d85b5962506c9f0cea4571caa.png" /></figure><p><strong>A refusal to fear death</strong></p><p>One of the most striking moments in the episode comes when Miriam talks about her own mortality. She simply doesn’t think about it. “Why would I waste one second thinking about dying,” she says, “when I can spend all day loving my life?”</p><p>It’s not denial. It’s perspective — the kind that comes from surviving the unimaginable and choosing joy anyway.</p><figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://youtu.be/XronOU4oJeU"><div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:56.2493%"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XronOU4oJeU" style="position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%;top:0;left:0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></figure><p><strong>Light, laughter and the everyday moments that carry us</strong></p><p>Despite the heaviness of the subject, the episode is full of warmth. Miriam laughs as she remembers sneaking a healer into a hospital room late at night, and the chaos of raising six little girls between two sisters. She speaks about the small signs she still feels from Anne and her father, and the belief that they “had a hand” in bringing her husband Steve into her life.</p><p>Muireann O’Connell guides the conversation with sensitivity and ease, creating space for both the heartbreak and the humour that sit side by side in grief.</p><p><strong>A poem for Ireland</strong></p><p>The episode closes with a piece of poetry from writer Gerard Devine, reflecting on what it means to be Irish — the history we inherit, the blessings hidden in ordinary days, and the quiet rituals that bind us together in loss and remembrance. It offers a moment of grounding after Miriam’s story, reminding listeners that grief is both deeply personal and part of a shared cultural thread.</p><p><strong>A community response that means everything</strong></p><p>We’ve been genuinely moved by the response to <i>Parting Words</i> so far. Listeners have shared how the conversations help them feel seen in their own grief, and how comforting it is to hear familiar Irish voices speak so openly about love, loss and resilience.</p><p>As our Digital Content Editor, Mairead Neary, puts it:</p><p>“This podcast was created for the community, and it’s clear the community has embraced it with real heart. We are especially delighted to have Miriam O’Callaghan join us for this episode. Her honesty, humour and willingness to speak openly about anger, faith and love have resonated deeply.”</p><h3 style="margin-left:0px"><strong>About the Sponsor: An Post Insurance</strong></h3><p style="margin-left:0px"><i>Parting Words </i>is proudly sponsored by<a href="https://www.anpostinsurance.ie/life-insurance/funeral-insurance"><u> An Post Insurance</u></a>. The partnership reflects the company’s commitment to supporting people as they prepare thoughtfully and compassionately for life’s most difficult moments. The podcast aligns naturally with An Post Insurance’s funeral insurance product, which helps individuals plan ahead and ease the financial burden on loved ones during times of loss.</p><p style="margin-left:0px">Paul Grimes, Managing Director at An Post Insurance, said the series resonates deeply with their values: <i>“Parting Words is a beautifully crafted series that treats grief with sensitivity, warmth, and authenticity. It aligns perfectly with our funeral insurance product, which helps people plan ahead and protect their loved ones when it matters most. We’re proud to support a project that encourages meaningful conversations around remembrance, resilience, and the bonds that connect us.”</i></p><p style="margin-left:0px">One Direct (Ireland) Limited, trading as An Post Insurance, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of An Post and is a tied agent of New Ireland Assurance Company plc for life assurance business. Funeral Insurance policies are underwritten and provided by New Ireland Assurance Company plc.</p><p style="margin-left:0px"><strong>Listen to </strong><i><strong>Parting Words</strong></i><strong> on all major </strong><a href="https://partingwordspodcast.transistor.fm/"><strong><u>podcast platforms</u></strong></a><strong> and watch full episodes on </strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XronOU4oJeU&amp;t"><strong><u>YouTube</u></strong></a><strong>.</strong></p>

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“Life Is Not for Messing Around”: Miriam O’Callaghan on Loss, Anger, Faith and Choosing Joy

<figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://share.transistor.fm/e/796416d7"><div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:390px;height:0"><iframe src="https://share.transistor.fm/e/796416d7" style="position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%;top:0;left:0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></figure><p><span style="color:black"><strong>Proudly sponsored by An Post Insurance</strong></span></p><p>In this new episode of <a href="https://partingwordspodcast.transistor.fm/"><i>Parting Words</i></a>, broadcaster and author Jacqui Hurley joins Muireann O’Connell for a reflective, emotionally rich conversation that leaves echoes long after the final word. Jacqui reflects on the sudden loss of her younger brother, Sean, and how that moment reshaped her family’s world, their priorities and their understanding of what it means to live with intention.</p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%"><img src="https://img-dedicated.rip.ie/Episode_2_-_Jacqui_Hurley_on_Sudden_Loss_and_Sibling_Grief_264da6b7488c6cbea14fd9738bfedb9f8e594888d8ce7957.png" /></figure><p>Rather than walking through every detail of her story, Jacqui brings listeners into the emotional landscape of sibling grief. She speaks about the shock that arrives without warning, the surreal quiet that follows, and the fierce instinct to protect the memory of someone who brought so much joy into the world. She also explores the complexity of grieving in public while holding something deeply private close to her heart.</p><p>A powerful thread runs through the episode: the conversations we have with the people we love can become anchors long after they are gone. One ordinary evening at the kitchen table became a source of strength for her family, shaping how they honour Sean and how they continue to move forward. It is a reminder that the smallest moments can become the ones that guide us.</p><p>Jacqui also reflects on the rituals that help, the ones that don’t, and the unexpected ways comfort can appear. She talks about the signs that make her feel Sean is still close, the stories that keep him present for her children and the way grief softens and reshapes itself over time.</p><p>This episode explores themes that many families will recognise:</p><ul><li>the unique and often overlooked experience of sibling grief</li><li>the tension between public sympathy and private heartbreak</li><li>the importance of storytelling in keeping someone alive in memory</li><li>how families find purpose after loss</li><li>the quiet, everyday ways love continues</li></ul><p>Jacqui’s reflections are full of warmth, humour and a deep sense of resilience. Her message is not about “moving on,” but about moving forward with the person you’ve lost still woven into your life.</p><p>Listen to the full conversation to hear Jacqui’s story in her own words, and to discover the moments, insights and memories that have shaped her family’s journey since Sean’s death. It is a conversation about loss, yes, but also about love, legacy and the courage to keep living with an open heart.</p><h3><strong>About the Sponsor: An Post Insurance</strong></h3><p><i>Parting Words </i>is proudly sponsored by<a href="https://www.anpostinsurance.ie/life-insurance/funeral-insurance"> An Post Insurance</a>. The partnership reflects the company’s commitment to supporting people as they prepare thoughtfully and compassionately for life’s most difficult moments. The podcast aligns naturally with An Post Insurance’s funeral insurance product, which helps individuals plan ahead and ease the financial burden on loved ones during times of loss.</p><p>Paul Grimes, Managing Director at An Post Insurance, said the series resonates deeply with their values: <i>“Parting Words is a beautifully crafted series that treats grief with sensitivity, warmth, and authenticity. It aligns perfectly with our funeral insurance product, which helps people plan ahead and protect their loved ones when it matters most. We’re proud to support a project that encourages meaningful conversations around remembrance, resilience, and the bonds that connect us.”</i></p><p>One Direct (Ireland) Limited, trading as An Post Insurance, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of An Post and is a tied agent of New Ireland Assurance Company plc for life assurance business. Funeral Insurance policies are underwritten and provided by New Ireland Assurance Company plc.</p><p><strong>Listen to </strong><i><strong>Parting Words</strong></i><strong> on all major </strong><a href="https://partingwordspodcast.transistor.fm/"><strong>podcast platforms</strong></a><strong> and watch full episodes on </strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyeJsCh7cZE"><strong>YouTube</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p><p> </p>

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Parting Words Podcast: Jacqui Hurley on Sudden Loss, Sibling Love and the Legacy We Carry

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“Life Is Not for Messing Around”: Miriam O’Callaghan on Loss, Anger, Faith and Choosing Joy

Parting Words Podcast: Jacqui Hurley on Sudden Loss, Sibling Love and the Legacy We Carry

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Your Impact in Numbers: How Donations Are Changing Lives

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Making a Will as a Single Parent: Key Legal and Practical Considerations

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“Life Is Not for Messing Around”: Miriam O’Callaghan on Loss, Anger, Faith and Choosing Joy

Parting Words Podcast: Jacqui Hurley on Sudden Loss, Sibling Love and the Legacy We Carry

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