Family Flowers Only by Grief Ireland

Family Flowers Only Gives Back 01.06.2026 2min

Every year I think its so important to give back. We never know when we will need the help. I just wanted to ask the listeners if they'd like to give a small donation if they have found the podcast helpful in anyway its a nice way to do a good deed for a worthy cause. If you feel compelled it would be so so SO appreciated.You can see the cause and do so here --> https://www.givewheel.com/fundraising/15491/5km-a-day-for-may-for-graham-lee/Thank you Kathie

Family Flowers Only with Hannah Kelly 31.05.2026 1u 23min

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/

Family Flowers Only with Patrick Moloney 24.05.2026 2u 9min

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.

Family Flowers Only with Paula Naughton 17.05.2026 1u 52min

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

Family Flowers Only with Kathleen Barrett 10.05.2026 1u 24min

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

Family Flowers Only with Des O'Donnell 03.05.2026 1u 29min

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

Family Flowers Only with Megan Kelly 26.04.2026 1u 3min

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

Family Flowers Only with Lauren Golden 19.04.2026 55min

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 @LaurenGoldenFor more information on Grief Workshops and Grief Retreats please visit www.griefireland.com

Family Flowers Only with Dympna Little 12.04.2026 1u 16min

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.

Family Flowers Only with Lauren Keaney 05.04.2026 1u 5min

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.comTo watch this video podcast episode in full - https://after-the-flowers.circle.so/checkout/after-the-flowers-membership

Family Flowers Only with Sarita Egan 29.03.2026 1u 24min

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.orgFor more information on grief support and resources, visit www.griefireland.com.You can find Sarita on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/sarita_innerlightpsychotherapy/

Family Flowers Only with Brittany Dowling 22.03.2026 1u 22min

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

Family Flowers Only with Joanna McNulty 15.03.2026 1u 10min

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 immediatelyYou can support Joanna’s campaign by signing her petition here:https://c.org/ZNbyTcyjdgFor 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

Family Flowers Only with Rachel Gotto 08.03.2026 1u 36min

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.ieFacebook: flowers.ieTikTok: @flowers.ie_A big thank you to Flowers.ie for supporting the podcast and helping these important conversations reach more people.

Family Flowers Only with Tommy Martin 01.03.2026 1u 29min

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

Family Flowers Only with Zöe Williams 22.02.2026 58min

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

Family Flowers Only with Lyn Kennedy 15.02.2026 1u 38min

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

Family Flowers Only with Evan Daly 08.02.2026 1u 19min

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-membershipFor upcoming Grief Workshops - visit https://www.griefireland.com/For more information about the incredible work Evan is doing visit: https://www.gleanapp.com

Family Flowers Only with Roz McElwee 01.02.2026 1u 25min

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

Family Flowers Only with Ailbhe O'Donnell 25.01.2026 1u 21min

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 CareThis 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 servicesInternational listeners: please seek crisis or mental health support services in your own countryYou don’t have to go through this alone.After the Flowers – Grief Support MembershipIf 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 herehttps://after-the-flowers.circle.so/checkout/after-the-flowers-membership