IAFD News

New Year welcomes new president

The New Year commences with a warm welcome to the new President, Robert Fanagan, who was presented with the chain of office by Edwina Fitzgerald (outgoing President) at the Annual General Meeting held in Hodson Bay Hotel on 16th November 2019

Annual General Meeting - 2019

The 40th AGM was very successful and well supported by members from all parts of the country.

Prior to the meeting a number of suppliers exhibited their merchandise and services which provided members an opportunity to view and hear about new products and systems in the marketplace.

The meeting followed the normal format which included a full review of the Association’s affairs and reports from the various Committees. A highlight of the meeting was the presentation of Certificates by Edwina Fitzgerald on behalf of Joanne Cooney, Course Co-ordinator to this year’s FDCA Students.

Following the meeting Colm Kieran, Funeral Directors Solutions, gave an excellent and very informative presentation entitled, 2020 Vision for Funeral Director Charges, which was very well received by all present.

The Dinner Dance in the evening commenced with the delivery of a short speech by Edwina Fitzgerald. She thanked all who attended, especially our sponsors following which she

presented Orla Nolan with a gift to recognise her work during the year.

Edwina also made a presentation to James Brown on his retirement and Robert Fanagan presented flowers to Mrs Sandra Brown as a token of appreciation.

IAFD News

Non-Board Retirements

The following retirements were announced: Joanne Cooney Joanne has stepped down as education programme coordinator for the Funeral Directors Certificate Award. Over the years Joanne has made an immense contribution in the promotion of education within the IAFD, she has been a great source of support and encouragement to all the students and an inspiration to the members of the Education Committee. Joanne is a past president and honorary member of the IAFD and she also completed the original Certificate of Funeral Practice. We wish her all the best for the future.

James Brown James Brown retired as a consultant to IAFD during the AGM. James has given much time to the Association over almost twenty years. Without him the Association would not have grown and evolved into the successful organisation it is today. The Board are grateful to him for his guidance, support and friendship over the years.

Retirements from the Board

John Foley John retired from the Board at the AGM and we wish him all the best into the future. He was bestowed with Honorary Membership during the AGM which is truly deserved, an immensely dedicated person who helped the IAFD massively during his time on the Board.

John Foley with Edwina Fitzgerald Kieran Sholvin Kieran also retired from the Board and the Board would like to thank Kieran for his contribution to the IAFD Board over the last two years and wish him all the best in the future.

Education

The students from the 2018/2019 Education Programme, Funeral Directing Certificate Award, were presented with their certificates at the Annual General Meeting on the 16th November 2019 in the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone.

The students were Geraldine Bane, Sarah Carney, Adam Carroll, Henry Kelly, Mary Keohane, Kate McAleer, Mark McBriar, Jacqueline Murphy, Luke O’Sullivan, Paul Reilly and Ann Thompson. Patrick Canny and William McGuire were also presented with certificates for completing elements of the course

IAFD News

OTHER NEWS...

Website Development

An announcement was made at the AGM that IAFD is in the process of updating its website. The developers are aware of our requirements, including the ‘look and feel.’

The home page will be inviting and easy to use and the “member sign-in” section will add real value. Useful information relating to repatriation, exhumation and preplanning funerals, to name a few, will be readily available together with other information that will be very relevant for IAFD members.

Dublin Diocese Meeting A number of issues were referred to at the AGM relating to Dublin Diocese payments due to the introduction of a new church offering from 1 January 2020. Robert Fanagan met with Declan McSweeney and Keava Lyons from the Diocese Finance Department, in Clonliffe College on Wednesday December 18th. Other IAFD members were invited and Robert Maguire, Robin Cunningham, Michael O’Donovan and John Foley attended.

The main purpose was to obtain clarity on several issues relating to the new fee. An email has been sent to all IAFD members in Dublin, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow explaining the outcome of the meeting about the offering.

MID-YEAR MEMBERS MEETING

Maryborough House Hotel, Cork. Friday 15th May at 2.30pm (Lunch for Members available at 1.00pm) (Details of format and content to be announced as soon as possible)

REGIONAL TRAINING WORKSHOPS:

Horse and Jockey, Tipperary - Thursday February 20th at 2.30pm Killyhevlin, Enniskillen - Thursday 24th Sept at 2.30pm (Topics will be announced in advance)

IAFD Contacts

Robert Fanagan (President) Fanagans Willbrook Street, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 Ph: 01 4931000 Email: robert@fanagans.ie

Donal Forde (First Vice President) Forde & Sons Funeral Home South Gate Bridge Cork Co. Cork Ph: 021 4318222 Email: fordes@indigo.ie

Edwina Fitzgerald (Immediate Past President) Fitzgeralds Funeral Directors Channel Road Rush Co. Dublin Ph: 087 3512949 Email: edwinafitzgerald78@gmail.com

Dara Gillespie (Hon. Secretary) Finlays Funeral Service Tierney Street Ardee Co. Louth Mobile: 086 7923472 Email: dara.gillespie@finlaygrp.com

Niall Mulligan (Hon. Treasurer) Heffernan’s Funeral Directors Trim Co. Meath Mobile: 086 8208501 Ph: 046 9438662 Email: heffernansfd@gmail.com Mary Cunniffe (PRO) Massey Bros Funeral Home Templeogue Village Dublin 6W Mobile: 085 8010742 Ph: 01 4907601 Email: mary.cunniffe@hotmail.com

Fintan Cooney (Membership Officer) Fanagans 54 Aungier Street Dublin 2 Ph: 01 4167700 Email: fintanjen@gmail.com

Tom Lawless Lawless Funeral Directors Mucklagh, Tullamore Co. Offaly Ph: 057 9322622 Email: info@tullamorefunerals.ie

Dermot McCarthy McCarthy’s Funeral Home Gurrane, Banteer, Cork. Ph: 029 56044 Email: dermot@ mccarthyfuneraldirectors.com

Niamh Sweeney John Sweeney and Sons Fairgreen Arklow Co Wicklow Ph: 0402 32333 Email: niamh@johnsweeneyandsons.ie

Unit 9, Canal Walk, Parkwest Industrial Estate, Dublin 12, D12 A4W6, Tel: 00353 1 625 1924 E: damian.creativebinder@gmail.com

- BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE -

- BRANDED BAGS -

- NON-WOVEN MATERIAL BAGS -

- FUNERAL UMBRELLAS -

- DONATION BOXES AND MORE... - NEW 2020 BROCHURE FREE WITH FUNERAL TIMES NEXT ISSUE!

Farquhar Macleod, Isle of Skye, collecting his new 4 wheel drive E-class hearse, custom built by Quinn Hearse & Limousine

CIVIL FUNERAL CEREMONIES

PadraicCawley MICF CivilFuneralCelebrant

087 267 6050 padraic@padraiccawley.ie www.padraiccawley.ie Celebrating the life of the deceased, reflecting their personal beliefs, wishes, values and traditions.

INSTITUTE OF CI V I L FUNE RALS