What’s another year by Padraic Cawley

What’s another year?

We are now one year on from the beginning of the pandemic, and as we face into what will hopefully be our last few months as we are all vaccinated, our industry has gone through some seismic changes. A year of only ten to twenty five mourners at a funeral service – some of our larger families literally having to draw names from a hat! A year which saw our crematoria set out like exam halls with all the seating spaced out. A year which saw many of us grapple with new technologies like Zoom, Team viewer, and Live storm in order to try and connect with our bereaved families. We got used to live streaming, a huge help in connecting families from around the world when they really needed each other. A year which saw many of our habits and social norms that we always took for granted, are now frowned upon or even seen as alien! We have all missed giving that reassuring hug, that gentle pat on the back, that embrace, the friendly handshake, letting our families know that we are there for them - that we

care. It’s been a year of fear, hope, disappointment, anger, sadness, banana bread, hand sanitizer, masks of various colours and designs, screens, yellow signs and arrows, cementing friendships, staying at home, and at times, utter exhaustion from the silent stresses the pandemic brings. But all the while, we as a professional caring industry rose to the many challenges that were presented to us, and we continue to mark the end of a life with sensitivities, gentleness and respect.

Glasnevin Trust has offi cially rebranded as Dublin Cemeteries Trust.

We are Ireland’s leading and most experienced community of cemeteries and crematoria for all religions and none. Ensuring excellent customer service, dignity and respect since 1828.

Our fi ve cemeteries and three crematoria each offer their own unique setting and memorial options – united by a single brand vision. Our new website

DublinCemeteriesTrust.ie

provides additional features, benefi ts and enhanced offerings: – A fully responsive funeral directors portal – Full list of services and their status – Improved burial records search with more flexibility and options – Direct uploading of forms and confirmation of burial or cremation services – Enhanced access for Medical

Referees – Funeral Directors listing and information page – New live web-streaming service