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PHOTOS & VIDEO – Children’s Grief Centre hosts Children and Loss Conference 2019 

Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology are Sr Helen Culhane, founder of Children’s Grief Centre (centre) with guest speakers Daniel McConnell, Irish Examiner journalist and Dr Elizabeth Nixon, professor of psychology in Trinity College Dublin. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.

PHOTOS & VIDEO – Children’s Grief Centre calls for Government Support at Children and Loss Conference 2019 

Due to demand tripling in the past year, the Children’s Grief Centre has called on the government to fully fund its services in order to continue their important work bringing support to children experiencing grief. 

Since opening their doors ten years ago, the Children’s Grief Centre in Limerick has given help to over 1,300 children, aged 4-18 years and is the country’s only dedicated service for supporting children through the grief of losing a parent through death or parental separation. 

However, despite its dedicated staff founder of the Grief Centre Sr Helen Culhane said at a conference to mark its tenth anniversary that the centre is running at full capacity and needs a new building to meet demand. 


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“What is really sad is that we now have 207 children on our waiting list, so (demand) has tripled,” Sr Culhane said. 

It has relied on the support of the Mercy Sisters congregation for use of its Westbourne Convent in Limerick “but we have now run out of space,” she added. 

“It really is very sad that 4% of our budget comes from the government, and 96% comes from the general public, and from my own congregation. 

“A service like this needs to be fully funded if we are serious about helping our children.” 

The centre is lobbying the government to help it build a larger €4m centre and the annual cost of running the service is approximately €150,000. 

The Children and Loss Conference was held last Friday in the Millennium Theatre, at Limerick Institute of Technology. Over 300 people came to the conference, including care professionals such as psychologists, social workers, youth workers, social care practitioners, teachers, and SNAs, as well as the general public such as parents, grandparents and family members. 

The conference included speeches from Sr Helen Culhane, journalist Daniel McConnell and Trinity College proffessor Dr. Elizabeth Nixon, as well as workshops in the afternoon and finally a Q&A with all the guest speakers. 

Children and Loss Conference 2019

Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 are Rebecca Lloyd, School coordinator of Children’s Grief Centre, Olive Foley, Ambassador of Children’s Grief Centre, Dr Niamh Hourigan,  facilitator of the panel discussion, Senator Maria Byrne and guest speaker Daniel McConnell. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.

Speaking at the conference was Olive Foley, whose late Ireland and Munster rugby star husband, Anthony ‘Axel’ Foley, died suddenly in 2016, and she described how the centre continues to cushion her family in their grief. 

“Anthony died so suddenly, in his sleep, very unexpectedly. So, I was left with two grieving children, and absolutely no experience, and in complete shock myself,” Ms Foley, who is now an ambassador for the centre, said. 

The services provided allow children to express themselves through play, art, and offering a listening ear in a safe, and non-judgmental setting. 

Irish Examiner political correspondent Daniel McConnell spoke about his battle trying to cope with the death of his mother, Ann, in 1991, when he was 12 years old. 

“Grief is a very personal thing, but for me, I know I would have benefitted massively from attending something like the Children’s Grief Centre when I was growing up,” Mr McConnell said. 

The speakers all agreed the service should be fully state-funded to ensure early intervention supports are provided to children who may fall through the cracks later in their adult life because of the impact of their grief. 

“Children need help and support with discerning their grief and what has happened to them — whether it’s separation of their parents or the (death) of a parent or sibling – they need help and support early on to prevent problems down the road,” Ms Foley added. 

For more information on the Children’s Grief Centre, click here 

For more stories on the Children’s Grief Centre, click here 

Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.
Pictured at the Children’s Grief Centre Children and Loss Conference 2019 in Limerick Institute of Technology. Picture: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick.

Photos: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick 

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Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.