Give a lasting gift this Christmas

The Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF) is a national charity dedicated to all matters related to dying, death and bereavement in Ireland. Every year 29,000 people in Ireland die, and on average ten people are directly affected by a death. One major element of the IHF’s work is on bereavement and ensuring those experiencing grief are well supported.

By leaving a gift in your will to the IHF you will be helping families to cope with their loss. We receive no core funding from the state and so rely on generous donations like yours to help fund a variety of services including; training over 3,000 people every year in providing sensitive end of life and bereavement support, producing information leaflets on various aspects of bereavement, and supporting bereaved children through the Irish Childhood Bereavement Network.

It’s never too soon to put your wishes down in writing and during Best Will Week, which takes place between from November 2nd to 6th you can make an appointment with a solicitor for €50 to get the process started. To find a participating solicitor in your area visit

Everyone of us will be bereaved at some point in our lives. The IHF’s vision is that no one should face death or bereavement without the support they need. We want to see that people experiencing loss and bereavement are met with informed compassion and with appropriate support. We can’t achieve this without the generous support of people like you. If you can bequeath a gift to us when making your will you will leave a lasting legacy that will support other people who are dealing with end of life and bereavement.

To find out more about leaving a bequest to The Irish Hospice Foundation contact Anna Sadlier on 01 6793188 or email

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Coping with bereavement this festive season

A recent IHF survey on attitudes to death and dying in Ireland revealed that 53% of the adult population had been bereaved in the last two years - that is more than one and a half a million people who will be missing a family member or friend this festive season. Christmas is traditionally a time of great celebration, but when you are grieving the loss of a loved one the festive period can be extremely difficult. As family gather together, the void left by a loved one who has died becomes all the more apparent and the hype associated with this ’happy’ time of year can be upsetting and exhausting for the bereaved.

While the first Christmas is particularly poignant, each Christmas without the person who died will have its own challenges. There is no set time-scale for grief and the process of grieving is different for everyone.

There are things that the bereaved can do to make the process a little easier, according to Dr. Susan Delaney, Clinical Psychologist and Bereavement Services Manager at The Irish Hospice Foundation, who shares some of our tips for coping with bereavement.

According to Dr Delaney, “There is something about Christmas that intensifies all our emotions. The hype begins in October and builds up in the weeks before Christmas, often making make it a very difficult time for those of us who are bereaved.”

“The first Christmas without a significant person can be very difficult andsimple things like putting up the Christmas tree and setting the table with one less place can lead to upset and loneliness. It is a bittersweet time and it is important that people suffering loss remind themselves they are grieving. Christmas day is only one day and a little planning can help people to get through it.”

Dr. Delaney offers some simple suggestions to make Christmas following bereavement a little easier:

  • Plan ahead. Decide what traditions you are comfortable keeping, and let go of others that don’t suit you this year.
  • Keep things simple. Think about what is meaningful and realistic for you and discuss this with other family members.
  • Begin a new tradition – perhaps lighting a candle at the table in memory of your loved one, or bring some holly to the grave.
  • Take some quiet time for yourself. Grieving is tiring and energy sapping. Have a lie down, or take a short walk. If you accept invitations give yourself the option of changing your mind or leaving early if you need to.
  • If there are children in the family ask them for ideas on how to spend the day. Young children may need to be assured that Santa is still coming and that it is OK to enjoy Christmas even if people are sad.

Dr. Delaney concluded, “It is important to remind yourself that the grief journey takes its own time and that most people experience days when they are coping quite well and other days when they feel ambushed by their grief. Just getting through the day can sometimes be a challenge. While it may well be a sad Christmas for you, unexpected things may lift spirits briefly: carol singers, the excitement of children in the family, or receiving a thoughtful card from someone who is thinking about you. In the midst of pain and sadness there can be moments of joy to be savoured; try to notice them.”

More advice on bereavement and the supports available are freely available on