Family Flowers Only by Grief Ireland

This week I'm joined by Dermot Horkan from County Mayo who has experienced more loss than most people could ever imagine.
Dermot has lost his mother Dolores, his sister Colette and his brothers Aidan and Colm. In this episode we focus particularly on the devastating loss of his brother, Detective Garda Colm Horkan who was murdered while on duty in Castlerea, County Roscommon, in June 2020.
Dermot speaks openly about the horror of that night, the shock of learning what had happened to Colm, and the heartbreak his family has lived with ever since. He shares what it has been like to grieve his brother in such tragic and public circumstances, while continuing to search for answers about the events surrounding his death.
We also discuss the serious concerns that have since emerged regarding the firearm holster Colm was wearing that night. Dermot and his family are calling for an independent public inquiry into these concerns and he explains why getting answers matters so much to them, not only for Colm, but for the safety of other members of An Garda Síochána.
Further information – The Horkan family's call for a public inquiry
Dermot and his family are calling for an independent public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Colm's death, including concerns raised about the safety and suitability of Garda firearm holsters.
For anyone wishing to contact the Department of Justice to express their views on the family's request for a public inquiry, the contact details are:
Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration
Email: info@justice.ie
Website: www.gov.ie/justice
Postal address: 51 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, D02 HK52
Grief Support
For information on grief support, events and resources, visit www.griefireland.com.

This week I sit down with Doireann Tiernan for an honest and eye-opening conversation about a form of grief we don't speak about nearly enough the grief that comes with living with chronic illness.
Doireann lives with a rare genetic condition called Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP), which has had an enormous impact on her health and her life.
She speaks openly about the reality of living with such a complex medical condition, having undergone major surgeries, including the removal of her stomach and gallbladder, and facing the prospect of eventually having her bowel removed.
We talk about what it's like when so much of your life revolves around hospitals, appointments, procedures and uncertainty. The loss of your health, your independence, the life you imagined for yourself, and the constant need to adapt to a body that has been through so much.
For more information about Grief workshops visit www.griefireland.com. And use the code "FLOWERS" for 20% off

This week I sit down with James Cox who shares the heartbreaking loss of his beloved wife Maria to an incredibly aggressive form of cancer known as soft tissue sarcoma.
Maria was a young, healthy woman whose life was turned upside down by a devastating diagnosis. Over the course of approximately one year, James and Maria faced an unimaginable battle as the disease progressed at a frightening pace. By the time Maria passed away she had developed almost 20 tumours.
James speaks with such honesty about that year of their lives, the constant fight to get ahead of the illness and the heartbreak of watching someone you love become so desperately unwell.
This is an incredibly moving conversation about love, grief, and the devastating reality of how quickly life can change.
For more information about grief support, workshops and my After the Flowers membership, visit www.griefireland.com.
Use the discount code "FLOWERS" at the checkout for Workshop Tickets

This week I sit down with Jemma Buttimer who shares the heartbreaking loss of her brother Desmond Hurley known to everyone as Des.
Des was just 29 years old when he tragically lost his life in December 2023 while working aboard a fishing vessel off the southwest coast of Ireland. An experienced fisherman from Kinsale Des suffered a fatal injury following a fall on board the boat in circumstances later described at his inquest as a one-in-a-million tragedy.
Jemma shares the devastating shock of losing her brother so suddenly, and we speak about the enormous impact a death like this can have on an entire family.
This is a deeply moving conversation about sibling grief, sudden loss, and the heartbreak of trying to make sense of something so unexpected.
A heartfelt conversation about love, family, and the lasting impact of losing someone far too soon.
For tickets and more information on the Grief Workshop visit www.griefireland.com

This week I speak to Sandra Mullen, a makeup artist and celebrant who shares a deeply personal story of loss, survival and a type of grief that often goes unrecognised.
Just four months after her wedding devastating news concerning the safety of her eldest daughter turned Sandra’s world upside down and her marriage came to an abrupt end.
What followed were years of raising her children alone, navigating loneliness and simply trying to survive with little time or space to process everything she had lost.
In this incredibly honest and moving conversation Sandra reflects on the grief she carried for so many years without even recognising it as grief. The loss of her marriage, the future she had imagined, and the life she thought she would have.
A powerful reminder that grief isn't always about death and that every form of loss deserves to be acknowledged.
For information and tickets for our upcoming Grief Ireland workshops, visit www.griefireland.com.