Civil funeral celebrant Padraic Cawley explains why what he does isn't a business, it's very much a vocation. Ireland has been moving away from religious funerals for some time now. The demand for a 'civil' service is sharply growing. Padraic explains the form of this new style of funeral and shares some moving stories of the families he's served over the last five years.

www.PadraicCawley.ie

The CEO of Glasnevin Trust shares what goes on behind closed doors at one of Ireland's most historic cemeteries. George McCullough talks about the incredible changes taking place there and how cremations are nearly evenly divided with burials. He also describes the strange experience of combining a 'working' cemetery & crematorium with one of Ireland's top tourist destinations.

Traditional Arts researcher Michelle Collins tells the fascinating story of keening in Ireland. She explains its origins and why it's such a powerful and important part of how people marked the death of a loved one. Michelle also shares why Ireland isn't the only country in the world to keen for its dead.

John Sherlock is an award-winning ceramicist making unique 'sacred vessels' designed to contain cremated ashes. He started his journey when faced with his own death, he decided one of his last tasks was to make an urn to hold his own cremated ashes. Fortunately, John's health turned around once he was correctly diagnosed and he stared getting requests to make these very special urns.

Suzie Carley from Dogs Trust Ireland explains the Canine Care Card programme. It's a free service from the charity helping dog owners ensure their beloved pets will continue to be looked after and re-homed should they die.

www.dogstrust.ie

Author and mariner Norman Freeman shares his stories of burials at sea during the years he was a Marconi radio officer aboard ship in the Indian Ocean.

Norman Freeman's book 'The Lure of Far Away Places' is sold by Dubray Books Ireland

IMAGE: The Burial at Sea by Frank Brangwyn 1890 Glasgow Museums

Folklorist and historian, Dr Jenny Butler, shares some insights into Irish funeral traditions. She gives a short explanation of the practice of 'keening' and why it was frowned upon by the 19th century Catholic hierarchy. We also explore the lineage from pre-history into contemporary pagan funeral rites. Dr Butler explains the power of the symbol and her work with the Amulet Project – helping women with the traumatic loss of a child.

Entrepreneur and former Dragons' Den contestant Kevin Walker founded and runs Your Final Journey. It's a company providing a very special service. He oversees the transport of human ashes into Ireland and then facilitates memorial scattering services wherever and however the deceased wanted. Kevin shares some of the extraordinary stories of the scatterings and wakes he managed.

www.yourfinaljourney.com

Design historian Mary Ann Bolger shares the complex and fascinating story of how the Irish Catholic Memorial Card was invented and how it grew to occupy such an important part of Irish cultural life.

Author and former grave-digger Jamie Moran shares the moving stories of those who didn't survive the 1916 Rising in Dublin. He explains the history of how Deansgrange Cemetery came to be opened in the 1860s. And tells of how so many volunteers, bystanders and children all had their lives brutally cut short with only their legacy hinted at on their gravestones.