Family Flowers Only by Grief Ireland

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