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.
This week I sit down with Doireann Tiernan for an honest and eye-opening conversation about a form of grief we don't speak about nearly enough the grief that comes with living with chronic illness.
Doireann lives with a rare genetic condition called Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP), which has had an enormous impact on her health and her life.
She speaks openly about the reality of living with such a complex medical condition, having undergone major surgeries, including the removal of her stomach and gallbladder, and facing the prospect of eventually having her bowel removed.
We talk about what it's like when so much of your life revolves around hospitals, appointments, procedures and uncertainty. The loss of your health, your independence, the life you imagined for yourself, and the constant need to adapt to a body that has been through so much.
For more information about Grief workshops visit www.griefireland.com (http://www.griefireland.com). And use the code "FLOWERS" for 20% off
25 Oct 2026
Family Flowers Only with James Cox
This week I sit down with James Cox who shares the heartbreaking loss of his beloved wife Maria to an incredibly aggressive form of cancer known as soft tissue sarcoma.
Maria was a young, healthy woman whose life was turned upside down by a devastating diagnosis. Over the course of approximately one year, James and Maria faced an unimaginable battle as the disease progressed at a frightening pace. By the time Maria passed away she had developed almost 20 tumours.
James speaks with such honesty about that year of their lives, the constant fight to get ahead of the illness and the heartbreak of watching someone you love become so desperately unwell.
This is an incredibly moving conversation about love, grief, and the devastating reality of how quickly life can change.
For more information about grief support, workshops and my After the Flowers membership, visit www.griefireland.com (http://www.griefireland.com).
Use the discount code "FLOWERS" at the checkout for Workshop Tickets
18 Oct 2026
Family Flowers Only with Jemma Buttimer
This week I sit down with Jemma Buttimer who shares the heartbreaking loss of her brother Desmond Hurley known to everyone as Des.
Des was just 29 years old when he tragically lost his life in December 2023 while working aboard a fishing vessel off the southwest coast of Ireland. An experienced fisherman from Kinsale Des suffered a fatal injury following a fall on board the boat in circumstances later described at his inquest as a one-in-a-million tragedy.
Jemma shares the devastating shock of losing her brother so suddenly, and we speak about the enormous impact a death like this can have on an entire family.
This is a deeply moving conversation about sibling grief, sudden loss, and the heartbreak of trying to make sense of something so unexpected.
A heartfelt conversation about love, family, and the lasting impact of losing someone far too soon.
For tickets and more information on the Grief Workshop visit www.griefireland.com (http://www.griefireland.com)
Who has been a guest on Family Flowers Only by Grief Ireland
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Laura Craine
Orla Clancy
Sequana O'Brien
Kathie Stritch
Kirsty Forde
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.7 / 5
19 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
964 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 33 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
53
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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