Family Flowers Only by Grief Ireland

This week I sit down with Matthew Malley from Donegal, who has lived through more loss than most will ever face. Matthew lost his father before he was even born, then his brother Francis to suicide, and later his mother Tessie to dementia leaving him as the only one remaining from his immediate family.

In our conversation Matthew speaks openly about going silent after losing his brother believing he had to “just get on with it.” He shares how damaging that silence became and why reaching out talking and seeking support is so important.

It’s an honest, powerful episode with a message that so many people need to hear.

For more information on grief retreats, visit www.griefireland.com.

This week, Family Flowers Only is shining a light on Lines of Enquiry, a gripping new Irish true crime podcast presented by retired Garda detective John Sweetman.

Each episode takes listeners inside the work of the Garda Technical Bureau, showing how real investigations are built from the ground up. It’s detailed, compelling, and grounded in the realities of what happens behind the headlines.

If you’re looking for a true crime show with substance and heart, this is the one to start.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3EzGXohKAgAo9iu9ADiHgU?si=g9f6uACxRTWuHJi069w2qg

This week, I sit down with Niamh McGuinness who shares the heartbreaking story of her son Jamie who was tragically murdered in April 2023.

In this powerful and deeply emotional conversation, Niamh speaks about the unimaginable pain of losing a child in such violent circumstances. She opens up about the ripple effect of male-on-male violence, the stigma that still surrounds it, and the devastating reality faced by families left behind.

We also speak about the court process, the search for justice, and the strength it takes to keep going when life has been forever changed.

⚠️ Please note: this episode contains discussion of violent loss, trauma, and grief that some listeners may find distressing.

For more information on grief retreats and support, visit www.griefireland.com

This week I sit down with Victoria Kirk, known to many online as @thisenglishhome whose beautiful home and DIY projects inspire thousands.

But behind her calm and creative world lies a story of deep loss. Victoria spoke to me about losing her dad to suicide when she was young and the heartbreak, and complexity that came with it. She also shared her experience of living with endometriosis and the grief of multiple miscarriages.

It’s a powerful and emotional conversation about love, loss, and the courage to keep rebuilding in every sense of the word.

For more information on grief retreats, visit www.griefireland.com.

This week I sit down with Valerie O’Donnell a woman whose story is both heartbreaking and profoundly moving. Valerie lost both her husband David and her son Darren to suicide.

In this deeply honest conversation Valerie speaks about how her life changed after their deaths, the layers of loss, the moments of understanding, and the unimaginable difference between losing a partner and losing a child.

It’s a raw, brave, and deeply human episode one that reminds us how vital compassion, awareness, and support are for those living with such pain.

The views and experiences shared in this episode are those of the guest and reflect her personal perspective. They are not statements of fact about any other individual or family. The conversation is shared for the purpose of understanding and awareness around grief and loss.

For more information on grief retreats, visit www.griefireland.com.

If anything discussed in this episode has affected you, please know that support is available.

Samaritans Ireland — Call 116 123 free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Pieta — For support with suicidal thoughts, self-harm, or bereavement by suicide, call 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 999 or 112 or go to your nearest Emergency Department.

This week I sit down with Meagan Johnston who shares the heartbreaking story of her sister Aoife Johnston. Aoife died from Sepsis after being left to wait over sixteen hours in the emergency department at Limerick Hospital despite being triaged as needing to be seen within fifteen minutes.

Meagan speaks with courage about the shock and devastation of her family’s loss, the ongoing fight for answers, and the lasting impact of what happened. She also reflects on the inquest process and the change she hopes will come so that no other family has to endure the same pain.

It’s an emotional and powerful conversation about loss, accountability, and love.

For more information about Grief Retreats visit www.griefireland.com

This week, I’ve teamed up once again with the Road Safety Authority (RSA) to share an important conversation about the lasting impact of road tragedies.

I sit down with Jacinta McIntyre, who lost her sister Sarah in a car crash caused by a careless driver. Sarah was a passenger in the car which claimed the life of the young girl and the driver, a mum of 7 children. Sarah's death changed Jacinta’s life forever.

More than two decades later Jacinta speaks about the grief that never leaves, the ripples of loss that touch every part of a family, and her hope that sharing Sarah’s story might help save others from the same heartbreak.

For more information on Road Safety visit WWW.RSA.IE

For more information on Grief Retreats visit WWW.GRIEFIRELAND.COM

This week I sit down with Caitlin Beckett who shares the heartbreaking story of losing her dad Keith suddenly. He was her whole world, her best friend, her biggest supporter, and the person she could always turn to.

Caitlin speaks honestly about the shock of his death, the guilt she carries knowing he was alone when he passed, and the dark days that followed. It’s a deeply emotional and powerful conversation about love, loss, and the pain of trying to move forward when your world has changed forever.

This week I sit down with Shauna Bohan, who shares the heartbreaking story of losing her fiancé Benny, who died suddenly in front of her. Shauna speaks with raw honesty about the grief of losing the person who was her whole world and about the loneliness that followed.

We also have one of the most open and powerful conversations I’ve ever had about mental health. Shauna talks about the darkness she faced, the weight of it all, and how she found the strength to climb back out of that hole.

This is a deeply moving episode one that will resonate with anyone who has faced the unimaginable and struggled to keep going.

For more information on Grief retreats visit www.griefireland.com

This week I sit down with Darragh O’Neill who speaks with honesty and courage about the loss of his sister Ella. At just 21, Ella was vibrant and full of life, but her death by suicide came as a devastating shock to her family.

Darragh shares openly about the aftermath of her passing , the grief, the change, and how isolating it can feel when people don’t fully understand. His words offer an important insight into the impact of loss, especially for young people navigating grief.

For more information on THE GRIEF WORKSHOP visit www.griefireland.com