The annual Ecumenical Embrace Remembrance Service was held in the Church of the Most Holy Rosary in Abbeyleix on Sunday last to remember loved ones who have died or have suffered injury from accidents on the farms of Ireland.
This annual event was well attended and has taken place since 2014. The service was led by Church of Ireland Bishop Michael Burrows. Local clergy were in attendance from the Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland.
The service was also attended by Minister Michael Creed, Minster Charlie Flanagan and numerous Agri VIPs including the Presidents of the ICA, (Mary O’Toole), ICMSA, (John Comer), Macra na Feirme, (James Healy), Ulster Farmers Union (Barclay Bell) and James Speers from the Young Farmers Clubs of Ulster.
The earth ceremony
A number of families told Brian and Norma Rohan who founded Embrace Farm how they went to the scene of where the accident had occurred, where their loved one was killed, and brought a handful of earth from there to be included in the service.
Everyone’s earth was carried outside by the ICMSA President John Comer and Macra President James Healy to where a tree was planted as a symbol of uniting the loss of our loved ones in one place.
The tree will stand as a reminder that we are on a journey together and that sharing our experiences through the support of Embrace FARM will help us to cope with the burden of loss that is so much as part of all our lives.
The symbols
The mix of people who are affected by farm accidents was shown in who brought up the symbols. The Lyons family, from Offaly, who lost their five-year-old boy brought a family photo showing that farms in Ireland are a family affair.
Patsy O’Connor from Roscommon, who lost his wife Lucy, brought his hat, a familiar sight on farmers and Carol Devereux from Wexford, who lost her Dad Paddy, brought a basket of food which farmers work hard to produce.
Farm accident survivors Aengus Mannion, who has gone through over 30 operations to be able to walk again, and David Brickley, who fell through a slatted shed, also brought symbols to the altar in representation of the animals and machinery that are a part of every farmer’s life daily.
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