Question 1

What should I do when someone dies at home?

Accepted Answer

If the death was expected, call the person's GP during the day, or the GP out-of-hours service in the evening, at night or at the weekend. There is no need to ring 999 or 112. If the death was sudden or unexpected, call 999 or 112 - the emergency services will attend and the Gardaí and Coroner will be informed as a matter of routine. Once a doctor has confirmed the death, please call us on +353 (0)71 962 0110 or 086 260 7707 and we will guide you gently through the next steps and arrange to bring your loved one into our care.

Question 2

What documents do I need when someone dies?

Accepted Answer

To begin funeral arrangements, you don't need immediate paperwork. To register the death later, you will need the Death Notification Form - Part 1 is completed by a doctor who attended the deceased (they can only do this if they saw the person within 28 days before the death), and Part 2 is completed by a family member. It also helps to gather the deceased's PPS number, birth certificate, marriage certificate, and any pre-planned funeral or life insurance documents.

Question 3

How quickly do I need to arrange the funeral?

Accepted Answer

In Ireland, traditional funerals typically take place within 3 to 5 days of the passing. There is no legal time limit on when a funeral must take place - the timing depends on family travel arrangements, the availability of the church, cemetery or crematorium, and whether a Coroner's post-mortem or inquest is required.

Question 4

What is the role of a funeral director?

Accepted Answer

Our role is to lift the administrative, logistical and physical burden of bereavement from your shoulders. We care for and prepare the deceased, coordinate with churches, celebrants, cemeteries and crematoriums, manage RIP.ie notices, arrange transport, and stay alongside your family through every step.

Question 5

How much does a funeral cost in Ireland?

Accepted Answer

Costs vary depending on burial versus cremation, the choice of coffin, and third-party fees (disbursements) such as church, singer and cemetery charges. On average, a standard funeral in Ireland ranges between €3,000 and €7,000+. We provide fully transparent, itemised quotes to help you work within a comfortable budget.

Question 6

Can I get help with funeral costs?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Department of Social Protection offers an Additional Needs Payment (formerly the Funeral Grant) for families who meet means-tested criteria. Specific grants may also apply where the deceased was a victim of a workplace accident, and some credit unions and unions offer support schemes. We are happy to guide you through these applications.

Question 7

What happens if someone dies abroad?

Accepted Answer

Please call us as soon as you can - international repatriation is a service we specialise in. We work with funeral directors overseas, embassies and airlines to manage the legal documentation and transport required to bring your loved one safely and respectfully home.

Question 8

Do I need to register the death immediately?

Accepted Answer

A death does not need to be registered before the funeral. It should be registered as soon as possible, and by law within 3 months (registering later than 12 months requires the written permission of the Registrar General). Registration is free, completed by a qualified informant - usually a close family member - at any Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths, using the Death Notification Form. Where the Coroner is involved and a post-mortem is held, the death is registered automatically and you do not need to attend the Registrar yourself.

Question 9

When must the Coroner or Gardaí be involved?

Accepted Answer

The Coroner is an independent official who looks into deaths that are sudden, unexplained, violent, or where the cause is not clear, or where the attending doctor did not see the person within the 28 days before death. This is routine and nothing to be anxious about. The Coroner may order a post-mortem and, occasionally, an inquest. While you wait for the death certificate, the Coroner can issue an Interim Certificate of the Fact of Death which you can use to deal with banks, insurance and social welfare.

Question 10

What if the family cannot agree on funeral arrangements?

Accepted Answer

Disagreements at such a difficult time are entirely normal. Legally, the executor of the will or the closest next of kin has the final say. We act as a neutral, compassionate guide, helping families find a way forward that respects the wishes of the deceased while honouring everyone's grief.

Question 11

Can we have a funeral service in a language other than English?

Accepted Answer

Of course. We accommodate multilingual services, bilingual booklets, and readings in Gaeilge, Polish or any other language that reflects your loved one's heritage and life.

Question 12

Can we still hold a wake at home?

Accepted Answer

Yes - home wakes remain a beautiful, deeply rooted Irish tradition. We prepare your loved one, arrange the removal back to the family home, and provide the equipment needed (such as condolence books and stands) so the wake runs smoothly.

Question 13

What is the difference between a wake and a funeral service?

Accepted Answer

The wake (or viewing) is an informal gathering before the funeral, traditionally held in the family home or at the church, where neighbours and friends call to offer condolences, view the deceased and share stories. The funeral service is the formal ritual - a Catholic Funeral Mass, civil ceremony or other religious service - held at a church, crematorium or chosen venue.

Question 14

How long should a traditional funeral service last?

Accepted Answer

A traditional Irish Catholic Funeral Mass typically lasts 45 minutes to an hour. Civil or humanist ceremonies usually run between 30 and 45 minutes.

Question 15

Can we have music at the funeral service?

Accepted Answer

Yes. For church services, music generally needs to be sacred or liturgical, subject to the parish priest's approval. For civil, secular or crematorium services you have complete freedom to choose recorded tracks or live music that held meaning for your loved one.

Question 16

What is the significance of the rosary at Irish funerals?

Accepted Answer

The Rosary is traditionally recited at the end of a viewing evening or wake. It is a communal prayer for the soul of the deceased and a quiet moment of collective reflection for family and neighbours before the day of the funeral.

Question 17

How do we organise the funeral cortège?

Accepted Answer

We handle the logistics of the procession. Typically the hearse leads from the family home or funeral home to the church, and later to the cemetery or crematorium. We advise on route, timing and arranging family limousines or cars to follow directly behind.

Question 18

What happens at the graveside service?

Accepted Answer

The graveside service is the final commitment ritual, usually short (10-15 minutes). It includes final prayers by the priest or celebrant, the lowering of the coffin, and an opportunity for family and friends to step forward and place a handful of earth or a flower onto the coffin as a final goodbye.

Question 19

Can we include Irish language prayers or readings?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Incorporating Gaeilge through traditional blessings (such as 'Sé an Tiarna m'Aoire') or an Irish blessing on the memorial card is a lovely way to honour Irish heritage. We can help source traditional Irish texts and format them into the mass booklet.

Question 20

What is the role of the chief mourner?

Accepted Answer

The chief mourners (usually the spouse, children, parents or siblings) are the primary points of contact for the funeral. They sit in the front pews, often walk directly behind the coffin during processions, and receive condolences from the community.

Question 21

How do we arrange for the Month's Mind Mass?

Accepted Answer

The Month's Mind Mass is an Irish Catholic tradition held about a month after the death to remember the deceased. You can arrange it directly with your local parish priest or parish office. We can also help place a brief reminder notice on RIP.ie if you wish.

Question 22

At what age should I start pre-planning?

Accepted Answer

There is no 'right' age. People choose to pre-plan at various stages of life - often when writing a will, entering retirement, or after the passing of a peer. Anyone over the age of 18 can pre-plan a funeral for peace of mind.

Question 23

Can I change my pre-planned arrangements?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your wishes are not set in stone. You can update or amend preferences regarding music, coffin choice, burial plots or service type at any time by simply getting in touch with us to update your file.

Question 24

How do I pay for a pre-planned funeral?

Accepted Answer

Pre-planned funerals can be paid for as a lump sum or through flexible options where funds are placed in a secure, independent trust or specialised funeral insurance policy. You can also simply record your wishes with us without pre-paying, leaving the financial settlement to your estate.

Question 25

What information do I need to provide for pre-planning?

Accepted Answer

Your personal details (full name, address, date of birth), your preference for burial or cremation, the location of the service, any specific readings or music, and the contact details of your chosen executor or next of kin.

Question 26

Can I pre-plan if I don't live in Ireland currently?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Many Irish people abroad who wish to eventually be brought home and buried in a family plot pre-plan their Irish funeral arrangements with us in advance, so their wishes are documented locally.

Question 27

What happens to my pre-paid funeral plan if your business closes?

Accepted Answer

Your funds are protected. Pre-paid funeral monies are not held in our business accounts - they are placed in independent, ring-fenced trusts or whole-of-life insurance policies. Your money remains entirely safe and transferable to another funeral director.

Question 28

How do I ensure my family knows about my pre-planned arrangements?

Accepted Answer

Once your plan is finalised we provide you with physical or digital copies. It is important to tell your next of kin, executor or solicitor that you have a plan in place with us, and to keep the documents stored alongside your Will.

Question 29

Can I pre-plan specific memorial services or celebrations of life?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Pre-planning is fully customisable. You can specify a traditional religious service, an upbeat non-religious celebration of life, a particular dress code, or a specific post-funeral gathering location.

Question 30

Can I include charitable donations in my pre-planned funeral?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can state that you would prefer family flowers only and request that attendees donate to a charity close to your heart instead.

Question 31

How long does the cremation process take?

Accepted Answer

The cremation itself takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. The ashes are usually ready for the family to collect or receive within 3 to 7 working days, depending on the crematorium's schedule.

Question 32

Can we have a funeral service before cremation?

Accepted Answer

Yes - this is the most common practice. A standard funeral service or Mass takes place in a church or chapel with the coffin present, and the cortège then travels to the crematorium rather than a cemetery. Alternatively, the entire service can be held in the crematorium chapel.

Question 33

What happens to the ashes after cremation?

Accepted Answer

Once the cremation is complete, the ashes are placed into a temporary container or a chosen memorial urn. The family can then decide to inter (bury) them in a family plot or cremation wall (columbarium), keep them at home, or scatter them.

Question 34

Are there restrictions on where we can scatter ashes in Ireland?

Accepted Answer

There are no strict national laws banning the scattering of ashes, but you must obtain permission to scatter on private land. In public waterways, lakes or the sea, it should be done discreetly, away from public swimming areas, using biodegradable urns or scattering tubes.

Question 35

How do we know we're receiving the correct ashes?

Accepted Answer

Irish crematoriums operate under strict statutory regulations. A unique identification token and paperwork follow the deceased through every stage of the process. Only one individual is cremated at a time, ensuring the ashes returned to you are definitively those of your loved one.

Question 36

What can and cannot be cremated with the body?

Accepted Answer

Materials must be entirely combustible. Soft clothing, flowers and small paper notes can be cremated. Prohibited items include glass, metals, PVC and - importantly - anything containing a battery (such as pacemakers), which must be removed by the hospital or funeral director beforehand.

Question 37

Is a coffin required for cremation?

Accepted Answer

Yes. By law in Ireland a coffin is required for the dignified transport and cremation process. Crematoriums require a coffin made of combustible materials (solid wood, wicker or cardboard) that will not release toxic fumes.

Question 38

How much does cremation cost compared to burial?

Accepted Answer

Cremation is often less expensive than a traditional burial, mainly because it removes the costs of a new grave plot, grave opening fees and headstones. If you choose to bury the ashes in an existing family plot, some minor plot reopening fees may still apply.

Question 39

Can we divide the ashes among family members?

Accepted Answer

Yes. This has become a popular option for families who live far apart. We can help arrange for the ashes to be respectfully divided into smaller miniature urns ('keepsake urns') or incorporated into memorial jewellery.

Question 40

What memorial options are available for cremated remains?

Accepted Answer

Options include purchasing a niche in a cemetery columbarium wall, burying the urn in an existing family grave, planting a memorial tree with biodegradable ashes, or memorial jewellery that holds a small, secure amount of the remains.

Question 41

What materials are coffins made from?

Accepted Answer

Coffins are available in a variety of materials including traditional solid woods (oak, mahogany, pine), wood veneers, eco-friendly materials (wicker, willow, bamboo, seagrass) and reinforced biodegradable cardboard for contemporary or green funerals.

Question 42

Can we personalise the coffin?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Personalisation can include custom metal or wooden handles, engraving symbols (such as Celtic crosses, sports club crests or musical notes), or a painted coffin featuring images or themes that represented your loved one's passions.

Question 43

What size coffins are available?

Accepted Answer

Coffins are made in standard sizes, but they can also be custom-built or ordered to exact dimensions to ensure the dignified and comfortable accommodation of any individual. We handle all measurements discreetly.

Question 44

Can we use our own coffin or one purchased elsewhere?

Accepted Answer

Yes - families are legally permitted to source their own coffin. It must meet the structural and material criteria required by Irish cemeteries and crematoriums. Please consult with us first so we can verify its suitability.

Question 45

What's included with the coffin?

Accepted Answer

All of our coffins come fully prepared with high-quality interior satin linings, frills, a matching pillow, external handles, and an engraved nameplate containing the deceased's name, age and date of passing.

Question 46

Are there coffins suitable for cremation?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Most standard wooden, veneered, cardboard and wicker coffins are perfectly suitable for cremation. We ensure that any coffin selected for cremation is free from zinc linings, heavy plastics or non-combustible fittings.

Question 47

How much should I expect to spend on a coffin?

Accepted Answer

Coffin prices vary with craftsmanship and materials. Simple cardboard or basic veneer options start from a few hundred euro, while high-end solid wood or intricately carved caskets cost more. We offer a diverse selection to suit every family's budget.

Frequently asked questions.

General

Traditional Funerals

Funeral Pre-Planning

Cremation Services

Coffins and Caskets

Get in touch, any time.