This week, I sit down with PJ Haverty, who shares his powerful story of being born in the Mother and Baby Home in Tuam in the 1950s. PJ’s mother was sent there after becoming pregnant out of wedlock, and despite coming back every week for over five years, the nuns refused to return her little boy to her.Fostered out, PJ grew up carrying the loss of his mother, a wound that shaped his life. In time he began to search for his birth mother but alongside the love he had for her came anger and grief for what had been stolen from them both.This conversation shines a light on the deep impact of the Mother and Baby Homes, and on PJ’s journey of loss, love, and survival.*Very brief mention of abuse For more information on Grief Retreats visit www.griefireland.com
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Family Flowers Only with Helen Groarke
This week on Family Flowers Only, I sit down with Helen Groarke. Helen speaks so openly about the devastating loss of her mum Ada to COPD, a woman she described as her best friend. Just two weeks later, her dad Phelim who had lived with bipolar all his life attempted to take his own life. Helen also shares the challenges that followed, from her son being diagnosed with an autoimmune condition to experiencing miscarriage. Through it all, she has carried immense strength, honesty, and love.Thank you to this episodes supportersFeeling stuck in your body? Grief can weigh heavily on us physically as well as emotionally. If you’re ready to try gentle movement from home Ecofitness by Korina Duffy is offering listeners a 30-day free trial.Move at your own pace, in your own space, even in your pyjamas.💚 Sign up here: https://coach.everfit.io/package/QJ743362🎙️ This episode was brought to you and recorded at GK Media Studio.They also offer a beautiful Legacy Package where you can record your own personal or family podcast, capture memories with a loved one, or tell your story in your own words.They can even travel to you.📼 Learn more here: https://www.gkmedia.ie/legacyFor more information on Grief Retreats visit www.griefireland.com
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1:17:17
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1:17:17
Family Flowers Only with Helen Groarke
This week on Family Flowers Only , I sit down with Helen Groarke . Helen speaks so openly about the devastating loss of her mum Ada to COPD, a woman she described as her best friend. Just two weeks later, her dad Phelim who had lived with bipolar all his life attempted to take his own life. Helen also shares the challenges that followed, from her son being diagnosed with an autoimmune condition to experiencing miscarriage. Through it all, she has carried immense strength, honesty, and love. Thank you to this episodes supporters Feeling stuck in your body? Grief can weigh heavily on us physically as well as emotionally. If you‚Äôre ready to try gentle movement from home Ecofitness by Korina Duffy is offering listeners a 30-day free trial. Move at your own pace, in your own space, even in your pyjamas. üíö Sign up here: ‚ņ‚ņ‚ņhttps://coach.everfit.io/package/QJ743362‚ņ‚ņ‚ņ üéôÔ∏è This episode was brought to you and recorded at GK Media Studio. They also offer a beautiful Legacy Package where you can record your own personal or family podcast, capture memories with a loved one, or tell your story in your own words.They can even travel to you. üìº Learn more here: ‚ņ‚ņ‚ņhttps://www.gkmedia.ie/legacy‚ņ‚ņ‚ņ For more information on Grief Retreats visit ‚ņ‚ņ‚ņwww.griefireland.com‚ņ‚ņ‚ņ
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1:17:17
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1:17:17
Family Flowers Only with Niamh Ruane
This week, I sit down with 17-year-old Niamh Ruane a remarkable young woman whose wisdom and honesty left me in awe.At just 15, Niamh lost her dad to pancreatic cancer, nine months after his diagnosis. Less than 10 months later, her younger sister Roisin was diagnosed with cancer too. As her mum had to care for her sister in Crumlin Hospital Dublin , Niamh had to stay at home with her younger brother, navigating grief, loneliness, and the absence of both parents in the house.She speaks so openly about saying goodbye to her dad, the silence that follows, and the way loss changes everything, especially for someone so young. This conversation is raw, moving, and will resonate deeply with anyone who has ever felt the weight of grief at a young age.You can find Niamh on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/niamhruane89?igsh=cXBxMHgwZnRyY3J3Thank you to this episodes supportersFeeling stuck in your body? Grief can weigh heavily on us physically as well as emotionally. If you’re ready to try gentle movement from home Ecofitness by Korina Duffy is offering listeners a 30-day free trial.Move at your own pace, in your own space, even in your pyjamas.💚 Sign up here: https://coach.everfit.io/package/QJ743362🎙️ This episode was brought to you and recorded at GK Media Studio.They also offer a beautiful Legacy Package where you can record your own personal or family podcast, capture memories with a loved one, or tell your story in your own words.They can even travel to you.📼 Learn more here: https://www.gkmedia.ie/legacyFor more information on Grief Retreats visit www.griefireland.com
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1:26:35
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1:26:35
Family Flowers Only with Niamh Ruane
This week, I sit down with 17-year-old Niamh Ruane a remarkable young woman whose wisdom and honesty left me in awe. At just 15, Niamh lost her dad to pancreatic cancer, nine months after his diagnosis. Less than 10 months later, her younger sister Roisin was diagnosed with cancer too. As her mum had to care for her sister in Crumlin Hospital Dublin , Niamh had to stay at home with her younger brother, navigating grief, loneliness, and the absence of both parents in the house. She speaks so openly about saying goodbye to her dad, the silence that follows, and the way loss changes everything, especially for someone so young. This conversation is raw, moving, and will resonate deeply with anyone who has ever felt the weight of grief at a young age. You can find Niamh on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/niamhruane89?igsh=cXBxMHgwZnRyY3J3 Thank you to this episodes supporters Feeling stuck in your body? Grief can weigh heavily on us physically as well as emotionally. If you‚Äôre ready to try gentle movement from home Ecofitness by Korina Duffy is offering listeners a 30-day free trial. Move at your own pace, in your own space, even in your pyjamas. üíö Sign up here: ‚ņ‚ņhttps://coach.everfit.io/package/QJ743362‚ņ‚ņ üéôÔ∏è This episode was brought to you and recorded at GK Media Studio. They also offer a beautiful Legacy Package where you can record your own personal or family podcast, capture memories with a loved one, or tell your story in your own words.They can even travel to you. üìº Learn more here: ‚ņ‚ņhttps://www.gkmedia.ie/legacy‚ņ‚ņ For more information on Grief Retreats visit ‚ņ‚ņwww.griefireland.com‚ņ‚ņ
During the pandemic I created a community on Instagram called Grief Ireland. It was following the death of my sister Elaine and her husband Pa. I found Grief to be still a taboo subject, unspoken, and a topic that not many wanted to discuss. Unless of course those who were in "the club no-one wants to be in". But to find those people was difficult. So I went on a mission to open the conversation, to comfort those who mourn, to educate those who don't, to hold space for others to talk about their Grief, Love and Loss and to remember our loved ones and ensure that they would never be forgotten.
Ireland