Family Flowers Only by Grief Ireland

This week I sit down with Hannah Kelly, who shares the loss of her mum and the complex grief that surrounded their relationship.

For much of Hannah’s life it was just the two of them. Her father left when she was very young, and she and her mum navigated life side by side. But as the years went on their relationship became more complicated. Hannah speaks openly about her mum becoming increasingly isolated, the strain that put on their connection, and the difficult reality of grieving parts of that relationship while her mum was still alive.

When her mum later died suddenly from a heart attack, Hannah was left carrying not only the grief of losing her, but also the grief of everything that had happened before.

This is a deeply honest conversation about complicated relationships, anticipatory grief, love, and the reality that grief is not always straightforward. Hannah shares her story with remarkable openness and vulnerability offering comfort to anyone navigating the loss of a parent where the relationship wasn't perfect, but the love was still there.

To donate to our fundraiser please visit here https://www.givewheel.com/fundraising/15491/5km-a-day-for-may-for-graham-lee/

This week I sit down with Patrick Maloney from Kerry for a conversation that explores loss in a very different way.

While we still speak deeply about grief, this episode moves beyond bereavement and into the loss of identity, the years lost to addiction, and the impact that struggle can have on relationships, family, and self-worth. Patrick speaks openly about his experiences as a young man battling addiction, and the painful distance it created between himself and his son.

This is a deeply honest and moving conversation about shame, recovery, healing, and what it means to try and rebuild a life after losing so much of yourself along the way.

Patrick’s story offers powerful insight into addiction, vulnerability, and the importance of compassion both for ourselves and for others who may be struggling quietly.

This week I sit down with Paula Naughton from Roscommon, mum to three boys Archie, George, and Isaac. All three were diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD, a life-limiting illness with no cure.

Sadly Paula lost her son Archie at just 16 years old. George and Isaac, now also 16, continue to live with the condition as their family fights tirelessly for access to emerging treatments and trials.

In this deeply moving conversation, Paula speaks about grief in all its forms, the loss of Archie, the heartbreak of watching your children lose their health, and the reality of living with anticipatory grief while still trying to hold hope.

Paula speaks with incredible honesty, strength, and insight about motherhood, resilience, advocacy, and the unimaginable balancing act of loving fiercely while living with uncertainty every day.

To learn more about DMD and support the family’s campaign, visit:
🌐 www.joinourboys.org

You can also follow their journey on social media:
📱 Instagram: @joinourboys_
📘 Facebook: Join Our Boys

This week I sit down with Kathleen Barrett who shares the sudden loss of her husband Ned, who died unexpectedly at home.

Kathleen and Ned had been together since they were very young, sharing almost 40 years of love, life, and a beautiful family together. In this deeply moving conversation, Kathleen speaks not only about the heartbreak of loosing him, but also about the enduring connection she still feels with him every day.

Her main message is one of love beyond loss, that while grief has changed over time, she no longer feels consumed by deep sadness because she has a complete certainty that Ned is still with her in different ways. Kathleen speaks beautifully about signs, connection, and the comfort she has found in believing that love does not end when someone dies.

For more information about the Spousal Loss Retreat we mentioned towards the end please visit www.griefireland.com

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/