Civil funerals in Ireland

                                                               Barry Spearman MSc., Dip. in Civil Funeral Celebrancy
                                          Garryneal, Ballina, Killaloe, Co Tipperary

                                          Tel: 0879782890    Email: spearmanb@hotmail.com
                                         Civil Funeral Celebrant

Civil Funerals

In simple terms, a Civil Funeral is a celebration of life, not death.

A Civil Funeral is a celebration of the life of the deceased, a tribute to the person to remind the survivors of the life and times of that person. A Civil Funeral is one which reflects the wishes, beliefs and values of the deceased and their loved ones. The family play an active part in the composition of the funeral, it is composed and conducted in accordance with instructions of the deceased and their family.

The ceremony itself is carried out in a quiet, respectful and tranquil atmosphere.Its not just a case of putting the persons name into a template as in a regular funeral service, its a personalised homage to the deceased told in a respectful way. Civil ceremonies are usually held in the Crematorium, but can apply to burials as well.

A Civil Funeral is all about choice, the family decide what they want included to help them best remember their loved one. It could be a piece of music, a poem or a reading that had some special significance to the deceased. It could also include a Hymn or a Religious reading, Civil Funerals can have a religious element if the family so wishes.

The Celebrant will meet with the family beforehand to discuss their wishes and preferences for the ceremony and arrange for these wishes to accommodated into the ceremony. The family will then be given a script to make any further adjustments so that the ceremony reflects what they actually want.

A funeral is a time of grief and loss, and a coming to terms with these emotions, however it should also be a time to reflect back on the life of the deceased and remember the good times and those little stories that had been long forgotten but now bring a happy memory.

Civil funerals may be a new concept in Ireland but they have been in existance in the UK for the past 10 years, and Australia and New Zealand before that. More and more people are turning to Civil funerals because they get to decide what they want included.

I have trained in England with the only accredited training provider whose qualifications are endorsed by the Government. Not every Civil Celebrant has this accredited qualification so ask if they have the Level 3 Diploma in Funeral Celebrancy (QCF) from Civil Ceremonies Ltd. This is the guarantee of a professional and quality service.

I would be delighted to assist you in delivering the ceremony that your loved one deserves. I am available to travel to all parts of Ireland.