Family Flowers Only by Grief Ireland

This week, I sit down with Des O’Donnell who shares the sudden and devastating loss of his wife Teresa known to many as Terri. Des and Terri were together for nearly 40 years, deeply intertwined in every part of their lives. Terri died suddenly at home after suffering a ruptured aneurysm, life changed in an instant. In this conversation Des speaks about the immediate aftermath of that evening, performing CPR, the arrival of emergency services, and the deeply distressing experience of coming under suspicion due to the circumstances. While later confirmed through a postmortem, this period added another layer of trauma to an already unimaginable loss, and meant he was unable to be with Terri in those first moments after her passing. This is a powerful and emotional conversation about sudden loss, love, and the complex realities that can follow in the wake of tragedy. For more information about Spousal Loss Retreats visit www.griefireland.com

This week I sit down with Megan Kelly who shares the devastating loss of both her brother Graham and her mum Samantha, who died by suicide just over a year between each other. Megan speaks with incredible honesty about navigating two profound losses so close together, something very few people experience, and the impact it has had on her life. We had an open conversation about suicide, mental health, and the reality of grieving in such complex circumstances. This is a deeply important conversation, helping to bring understanding, reduce stigma, and encourage more open conversations around mental health. ⚠️ Content note: This episode contains discussion of suicide and mental health which some listeners may find distressing. Please take care while listening. If you have been affected by anything in this episode, support is available: 📞 Samaritans (Ireland): 116 123 (freephone, 24/7) 📱 Text HELLO to 50808 (Crisis Text Line Ireland) For those seeking support or connection in their own grief journey: • My Spousal Loss Retreat Weekend is now open, you can find more information at: www.griefireland.com • You can also learn more about my May 5K a Day Challenge and join the team here: https://forms.gle/11PTTxQsAXd3icBXA

This week I sit down with Lauren Golden a clinical psychotherapist, who shares the loss of her brother Daniel who died by suicide. Lauren speaks about the complexity of Daniel’s mental health in the lead-up to his death, including his diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Despite the challenges he faced she reflects on how she never thought for a moment it would end this way, a reality that so many families can relate to. Drawing from both her personal experience and her professional background Lauren offers a deeply insightful conversation around mental health, suicide, and grief. She also speaks about her own grieving process and how she found a way to move through her loss in a way that felt healthy and supportive. This is an honest and important conversation that brings both understanding and compassion to a topic that is often difficult to speak about. You can find Lauren on Instagram @LaurenGolden For more information on Grief Workshops and Grief Retreats please visit www.griefireland.com

This week I sit down with Dympna Little known to many online as @dimplestilskin, recognised for her sharp wit and dark humour. In this conversation Dympna shares a very different side of herself, speaking openly about the loss of her mum, Lily. With honesty and vulnerability, she reflects on her grief, the impact her mum had on her life, and how that loss continues to shape her. While Dympna is known for her humour, this episode shows the depth behind it, how laughter and grief can exist side by side. She allows herself to go to places we don’t often see, offering a powerful and human insight into loss. This is a heartfelt and honest conversation about love, grief, and the many ways we cope.

This week I sit down with Lauren Keaney who shares the devastating loss of her brother Thomas who died in Australia after being the victim of a one-punch attack. Thomas had emigrated from Galway and Lauren speaks about the shock of losing him so suddenly in such violent circumstances, and the heartbreak of having to bring him home to Ireland. She reflects on the impact of losing someone at the hands of another person, the shock, the pain, and the deep sense of injustice that can come with that kind of loss. This is a powerful and emotional conversation about sibling grief, sudden loss, and learning to live with something that should never have happened. For more information on our Grief Workshops visit www.griefireland.com To watch this video podcast episode in full - https://after-the-flowers.circle.so/checkout/after-the-flowers-membership

This week I sit down with Sarita Egan a mum of four who shares the heartbreaking loss of her husband Mark, who died by suicide. Mark had also battled for a period with severe psychosis on and off whilst coming off anabolic steroids. Sarita speaks openly about the shock of what happened, the guilt she carries, the complexity of Mark’s mental health in those final weeks, and the devastating impact his loss has had on her and their children. She shares her experience with honesty and courage, shedding light on a topic that is often misunderstood and rarely spoken about. This is a deeply emotional conversation about grief, mental health, and the ripple effect it continues to have on a family. ⚠️ Content note: This episode contains discussion of suicide and mental health which some listeners may find distressing. Please take care while listening. If you have been affected by anything in this episode, you can contact Samaritans for support: 📞 Freephone 116 123 (Ireland & UK) 🌐 www.samaritans.org For more information on grief support and resources, visit www.griefireland.com. You can find Sarita on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/sarita_innerlightpsychotherapy/

This week I sit down with Brittany Dowling who shares the heartbreaking story of losing her husband Danny Dowling who died suddenly at just 36 following an epileptic seizure known as SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy). Danny was a devoted father to two young boys and a well-known business owner, running a much-loved lodge in the Wicklow Mountains. His sudden death has left an unimaginable void in Brittany's life and in the lives of those who knew and loved him. In this episode Brittany speaks about the shock of losing Danny so unexpectedly, the reality of navigating life and motherhood in the aftermath, and the deep love and village that continues to carry her through. This is a powerful and emotional conversation about sudden loss, family, and learning to keep going when everything changes in an instant. For those who may need support in their own grief journey: • Tickets for my Parent Loss Grief Workshop in Athlone – April 19th can be found here: https://www.griefireland.com/grief-retreat/p/grief-workshop-for-partner-loss-athlone • You can also learn more about my community membership After the Flowers, where members can access full video episodes, support resources and a private community space: https://after-the-flowers.circle.so/checkout/after-the-flowers-membership

This week I sit down with Joanna McNulty who shares the devastating and very recent loss of her father Joachim McNulty. Joachim was a seasoned fisherman who knew the sea well but tragically lost his life when his car slid down the slipway at Belderrig Pier in Mayo and entered the water. The pier surface had become dangerously slippery due to moss and algae and he was unable to escape the vehicle. Joanna joins me in the very acute early stages of grief to speak about what happened, the shock and devastation of losing her dad in such preventable circumstances, and the reality of navigating grief so soon after a tragedy. Alongside sharing her father’s story Joanna is determined that no other family should experience the same loss. She is now advocating for proper maintenance and safety standards across Ireland’s piers so that something like this cannot happen again. This is an incredibly raw and powerful conversation about grief and also about the need for safety measures to be implimented immediately You can support Joanna’s campaign by signing her petition here: https://c.org/ZNbyTcyjdg For those who may need support in their own grief journey: • Tickets for my Parent Loss Grief Workshop in Athlone – April 19th can be found here: https://www.griefireland.com/grief-retreat/p/grief-workshop-for-partner-loss-athlone • You can also learn more about my community membership After the Flowers, where members can access full video episodes, support resources and a private community space: https://after-the-flowers.circle.so/checkout/after-the-flowers-membership

This week I sit down with Rachel Gotto, a trauma and crisis coach and clinical hypnotherapist, who shares both her personal story of loss and the work she now does supporting others through trauma and grief. Rachel speaks about the devastating loss of her husband Nick, who died in a tragic accident when she was six months pregnant with their first child. She also reflects on the earlier loss of her brother Dominic at a young age, a grief that had a profound impact on her life and the path she would eventually take. Drawing from both lived experience and her professional work, Rachel offers powerful insight into trauma, grief, and the ways people can become stuck in their pain as well as how they can begin to gently move through it. It’s a thoughtful and deeply insightful conversation, full of wisdom for anyone navigating loss or supporting someone who is. You can learn more about Rachel and her work at www.rachelgotto.com, and find her on Instagram at @rachelvgotto. This episode of Family Flowers Only is kindly supported by Flowers.ie. Flowers.ie is an Irish business helping people send thoughtful, beautiful flowers across Ireland, whether it’s to celebrate, say thank you, or simply let someone know you’re thinking of them during difficult times. You can find them online at www.flowers.ie and follow along on social media: Instagram: @flowers.ie Facebook: flowers.ie TikTok: @flowers.ie_ A big thank you to Flowers.ie for supporting the podcast and helping these important conversations reach more people.

This week, I sit down with Tommy Martin who shares the deeply traumatic loss of his brother Chris who died suddenly from an asthma attack in front of him. Tommy speaks openly about the shock of that moment, trying to save his brother by performing CPR, and the lasting impact that night had on him. He reflects on how the trauma changed him, how he tried to bury his grief, and how eventually it all caught up with him. We also talk about the later loss of his father, and the complicated feelings that followed, including regret, reflection, and the weight of things left unsaid. This is a powerful and honest conversation about trauma, sibling loss, father loss, and the importance of allowing yourself to feel what you’ve been carrying. For tickets to upcoming Grief workshops please visit www.griefireland.com For watch Podcast Video episodes in full and have early access to episodes plus a full supportive membership community with live support calls and therapeutic practises and more please join the "After the Flowers Membership" here https://after-the-flowers.circle.so/checkout/after-the-flowers-membership

This week I sit down with Zoe Williams who shares the heartbreaking loss of her brother Lee who died from cancer at just 27 years old. Zoe speaks openly about what it was like to watch her brother become ill at such a young age, the shock of losing him when life should have been stretching out in front of him, and the deep bond they shared as siblings. She reflects on the aftermath of his death, the silence, and the space he left behind. This is a tender and honest conversation about loosing someone far too soon, and learning how to carry them with you in the years that follow. For more information on Grief Retreats please visit www.griefireland.com To WATCH podcast episodes and find real support in the membership - https://after-the-flowers.circle.so/checkout/after-the-flowers-membership

This week I sit down with Lyn Kennedy for an honest conversation about two very different but equally profound kinds of loss. Lyn first speaks about her wonderful dad Peter who developed depression later in life and struggled openly with his mental health before dying by suicide. She reflects on what it was like to witness that decline, the impact it had on their family, and the shock and grief that follows such a complex loss. We then move into Lyn’s own journey with secondary infertility, the seven-year struggle to have another baby and the emotional toll of longing, hope, and uncertainty. Lyn shares candidly about what that chapter looked like for her and where that journey has led. This is a conversation about love, resilience, and the many forms grief can take, both sudden and slow, visible and invisible. For more information on Lyns work you will find her on Instagram @lynkennedyphotography For more information on The Grief Workshops please visit www.griefireland.com

This week I sit down with Evan Daly, who speaks with such love and honesty about losing his dad Iggy to an extremely aggressive cancer, Cholangiocarcinoma. Evan’s dad died just one month to the day after his diagnosis, and Evan reflects on the courage and calm acceptance his dad showed from the very beginning and how that strength carried their family through the hardest weeks of their lives. Beyond the loss itself, this conversation gently opens into something many people experience after grief, loosing your way, feeling disconnected from your body, your routine, and yourself. Evan shares his perspective as an online coach, speaking about compassion, empathy, and meeting yourself where you are, especially after loss, when motivation and structure can feel impossible. We also talk about Evan’s coaching platform app Glean and how movement, routine, and self-kindness can become supports rather than pressures during grief. For anyone looking for additional support you’ll find my membership space After the Flowers here https://after-the-flowers.circle.so/checkout/after-the-flowers-membership For upcoming Grief Workshops - visit https://www.griefireland.com/ For more information about the incredible work Evan is doing visit: https://www.gleanapp.com

This week I sit down with Roz McElwee for an honest and moving conversation. Roz speaks about loosing her beloved mom to cancer. Interwoven throughout this episode is a very open discussion about baby loss, fertility struggles, miscarriage, and the journey toward surrogacy. Roz shares her story with such vulnerability, touching on the quiet grief that so many people carry while trying to build a family often in silence. This is a conversation about layered loss, grieving a parent while also navigating the heartbreak and hope that comes with fertility challenges and the strength it takes to keep going when life doesn’t unfold as expected. For those looking for ongoing support, I’ve created a private membership space called After the Flowers. You can find more information here https://after-the-flowers.circle.so/checkout/after-the-flowers-membership

Content note: This episode includes discussion of suicide, mental health struggles, and family estrangement. In this weeks episode I’m joined by Ailbhe O'Donnell, who shares her experience of loss, survival, and the long-term impact of family estrangement. Ailbhe speaks openly about loss in its many forms the loss of family connection, the loss of identity, the loss of belonging and what it means to grieve people who are still alive. This episode also explores Alva’s journey through profound mental health struggles in her early adulthood, her experience of feeling unsupported at critical moments, and the slow, hard process of rebuilding a life rooted in self-worth, resilience, and compassion. At its heart, this is a conversation about survival, and learning how to become your own source of care when no one else can. This episode does not seek to assign blame or make allegations about any individual. All reflections shared are from Ailbhe’s personal perspective, memory, and emotional experience and are presented as such. Listener Care This episode may be difficult for some listeners. Please take care while listening, pause if you need to, or skip this episode entirely if it feels like too much right now. If this conversation brings anything up for you, support is available: Ireland: Samaritans — 116 123 (24/7) Contact your GP or local mental health services International listeners: please seek crisis or mental health support services in your own country You don’t have to go through this alone. After the Flowers – Grief Support Membership If this episode has resonated with you, I’ve recently opened a gentle support space called After the Flowers, a low-cost monthly membership for people navigating grief in all its forms. It’s a place to connect with other people who understand, take part in group conversations and live Zoom support calls, and access sessions designed to support the nervous system through grief, including breath work, meditation, EFT, and grounding practices. Members also receive exclusive access to podcast video episdoes and conversations. There’s no pressure it’s simply there if and when it feels right for you. You can join here https://after-the-flowers.circle.so/checkout/after-the-flowers-membership

This week’s episode is a catch-up conversation with previous guest Sophia Murphy where we reflect on how she has navigated Christmas and the months since we last spoke. Sophia’s grief journey is complex and deeply personal. In this episode, she speaks about surviving childhood sexual abuse at the hands of her father, the long-term impact that trauma has had on her life, and the work she has done around healing. She also shares her experience of engaging in restorative justice, including visiting her father in prison to confront the past, and how this process has supported her own recovery. This is an honest, thoughtful conversation about trauma, survival, and the different paths people take toward healing. We also reference our previous episode together which listeners may wish to revisit for further context. Just search for Family Flowers Only with Sophia Murphy. ⚠️ Content notice: This episode contains discussion of childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault, and trauma, which some listeners may find distressing. Please take care while listening. For those looking for ongoing support, I’ve created a private membership space called After the Flowers. You can join the mailing list via www.griefireland.com to be the first to hear more. From Tuesday, the membership will be linked directly here in the show notes. To hear more from Sophia her own podcast is called "Having the chats with Peter and Sophia" and you can find that wherever you get your podcasts

This week I sit down with Charlotte Finn, who speaks openly about losing her dad Michael to oesophageal cancer. Charlotte was just 13 when her dad was diagnosed and 14 when he died. Now 19 she reflects back on that time with remarkable honesty and insight. Charlotte shares what it was like to be a teenager watching a parent become ill and how even knowing he was sick she never truly believed he would die. She speaks about the shock of losing him so young, the way grief showed up during her teenage years and how that loss has shaped who she is today. It’s a powerful conversation that offers a rare and important perspective on parental loss through the eyes of a young person. For more information on joining our membership please visit www.griefireland.com

This week I sit down with Edel Killilea for an incredibly moving and emotional conversation. Edel’s story is one of huge love and immense loss. She speaks about loosing her baby daughter Sienna who was born with a heart condition and lived for just a few precious days. In the months that followed Edel also lost her baby nephew who lived for only one day and later her brother Kevin to cancer. At the heart of this episode is Edel’s story of true love with her husband John who was diagnosed with a rare form of Parkinson’s known as MSA. Edel speaks so beautifully about the life they shared, the pure character he was, and the indescribable ache of loosing her soulmate. Edel also shared some of her incredible poetry, her therapy and coping mechanism. She closed the episode by reading one of her own poems and holding little "Sienna bunny" a teddy who was on her lap the whole time. For more information about Grief retreats and the "After the Flowers" Membership coming soon visit www.griefireland.com

This week join me from my home for a solo episode! I wanted to be with you this New Year's Eve to highlight how hard the day can be while navigating grief. As this year comes to an end I also wanted to share a couple of touching voice notes from listeners and past guests. This really feels like a community here and Im just so grateful to be with you all each week as you walk this difficult road. Thank you all so much for listening and for sharing. I will see you all on Sunday with another episode. Kathie x For more information on the upcoming membership join the mailing list on www.griefireland.com

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