"In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes," wrote Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.
Mortality is not a taboo topic in Ireland. Irish people are renowned for 'doing death well'. We pride ourselves on giving people 'a good send off', valuing the ritual of the wake and the funeral.
And yet, while death is a certainty, most people prefer not to think about it or prepare for it - practically and financially - even though it would make the task of managing affairs after death more manageable for the bereaved.
The business of death has seen lots of changes in recent years. RIP.ie is the go-to website for death notices, non-religious ceremonies are growing in popularity, and funerals are regularly streamed online.
Death is big business. There is a guaranteed customer base. The industry has also had to move with the times and adapt to changing trends.
Make a Will
The failure of people to leave clear instructions around how their affairs are to be settled after they die can lead to financial problems and create difficult situations for grieving families.
Financial planners advise adults of any age to make a will. This is particularly important for people with children or people with assets, such as a home or other property.
"If you die without leaving a will, you will be said to have died intestate, and your estate will be distributed in accordance with the law of succession," said John McNicholas, director with financial planner, Everlake.
"This means your assets and treasured possessions may not be distributed as you would wish them to be."
He advises people to take time to ensure a will is made correctly.
"A solicitor will guide you through what is required when making a will and will help you make the best decisions you can," Mr McNicholas said.
"Note that it is important to update your will regularly throughout your life to ensure that it reflects any change in your circumstances and wishes."
Inheritance tax
The amount that a person can receive as a gift or inheritance from a relation before having to pay Capital Acquisitions Tax increased as part of Budget 2025.
The government made the changes because of the increase in property values in recent years.
The Group A threshold for CAT, which includes gifts or inheritance from parents to their children, will rise from €335,000 to €400,000.
The Group B threshold, which includes gifts or inheritances from siblings, will rise from €32,500 to €40,000.
And the Group C threshold, which includes gifts and inheritances to relatives like uncles, aunts or cousins, will rise from €16,250 to €20,000.
Legacy and estate planning should be carried out many years before your death, in so far as possible, according to Everlake.
"The sooner you start thinking about your estate plan, the more tax efficient you can make it," Mr McNicholas said.
"As with all financial plans, your estate plan should be regularly reviewed with a financial advisor. Tax-free thresholds and rules can change so it's important that your plans are up to date and continue to work for you."
Funerals
Some people are choosing to plan their funeral in advance, with funeral directors offering a pre-planning service to discuss a person's wishes.
It helps lessen the stress and financial worry for the bereaved at what is an emotional time.
John Mark Griffin of Griffins Funerals in Limerick said, "more and more people want to be involved in decisions about their funeral".
"People are getting more specific now about their instructions. We offer a bespoke funeral service and we try to deliver the life event that people want," he said.
"People are trying to save their families the difficulty of guessing what a loved would want, and now there are a lot more options out there than there were in the past."
Everlake said people shouldn't underestimate the importance of having practical information at hand for your loved ones – such as your preferences around funeral arrangements, as well as bank account details, passwords for mobile phone and electricity accounts.
Mr McNicholas advised having cash readily available for your loved ones because the probate process will need to run its course whether you have a will or not.
"This all takes time, during which your bank accounts and payments may be frozen and access to other investments in your name may be inaccessible," he said.
"Your loved ones will be in the depths of grief and heartache when you pass away so 'dying tidily’ could turn their task of managing your affairs from a mammoth one into a manageable one."
After a person dies, and when a family engages the services of a funeral director, the first thing they need to consider is burial or cremation and the arrangements are organised around that.
Mr Griffin, who is also the spokesperson for the Irish Association of Funeral Directors, said burial is still the preferred option but there is growing interest in cremation.
"In the Mid West, the introduction of Shannon crematorium makes it a lot less stressful for families to select the cremation route, and that definitely has increased the number of people who are opting for cremation," he said.
In some parts of the country, people are choosing Columbarium walls for the interment of ashes.
If a family chooses burial, they will need to re-open an existing grave or purchase a new grave.
Many cemeteries offer a choice of locations and prices, and whether you are purchasing a new grave or opening an existing one there will be an opening fee.
Funeral directors offer a range of coffins from traditional wooden, casket or eco-friendly coffins, most of which are crafted here in Ireland.
"Some people like the idea of a wicker coffin," Mr Griffin said. "There is definitely a tendency to opt for a more simple coffin when cremation has been selected."
The costs of coffins vary depending on the design, materials used and size. A wicker coffin, for example, can cost from €800 to €2000. A basic pine coffin can cost around €500, while a coffin made of mahogany or oak can cost upwards of €2,000.
Much like a wedding, the overall cost of a funeral can vary considerably. The cost of a traditional funeral, including payments to third parties, can range from €3,500 to €8,500, according to Fanagan's Funeral Directors in Dublin. There is no VAT added to the total funeral account.
For the ceremony, funeral directors will liaise and confirm details with clergy, churches, cemeteries, crematoria, as required.
There are many alternatives to a traditional religious funeral.
A humanist funeral, for example, includes a non-religious funeral service, led by a person known as a ‘celebrant’. It focuses on the person and their life, rather than religious readings or rites.
It is much like a traditional funeral service, just with non-religious music and poems instead of hymns and prayers.
"There has definitely been an increase in the number of secular funerals compared to religious funerals," Mr Griffin said. "Chapels in crematoriums give the option of a non-religious service or a shorter prayer service as well."
During the pandemic, the grief of losing a loved one was exacerbated by travel restrictions and the number of mourners allowed to attend funerals. The live streaming of funerals was a source of comfort to the bereaved.
Many churches and crematoria embraced the technology at the time, and continue to have complimentary streaming services.
It is a service appreciated by family abroad or people in nursing homes who are not able to attend.
"It spiked during the pandemic," Mr Griffin said. "It is definitely something that is being used if it's available more so than something that is being requested."
Death notices
Earlier this year, The Irish Times Group acquired online death notice platform RIP.ie.
The online platform for death notices, with 60 million page views a month, is a cultural phenomenon in Ireland.
The Irish Times newspaper has a long tradition of publishing death notices going back to the mid-1800s, but the paper recognised that trends were changing.
"As reader habits change, we are constantly looking at ways to enhance and diversify our portfolio," said Deirdre Veldon, managing director of The Irish Times Group.
"By harnessing the reach and compelling content of RIP.ie, The Irish Times aims to unlock new opportunities for audience engagement and digital growth."
Death notices were first broadcast in Limerick, on the pirate station, Radio Luimnigh.
John 'The Man' Frawley, who was known locally as Mr Radio, began reading death notices from the papers in the late 1970s.
Comedian Billy Connolly heard about it, and made reference to it on the Late Late Show, and the idea took off.
When local radio became licensed, broadcasting obituaries became a service on local radio, one that is still provided in Limerick on Live95, three times a day.
It is a service that still resonates with families.
"Live 95FM has a big following for obituary notices and people will listen to them to find out who has passed away," said local funeral director, John Mark Griffin, "and that is something that definitely hasn't fallen away.
"But, there has definitely been a fall off in putting death notices in newspapers. It would really be just for nostalgia or because the person who passed away bought that paper every day. It is no longer the main driver for getting the word out there that the funeral is taking place."
Remembrances or Memoriams on the anniversary of a loved one are still popular in local newspapers. Many people will ring to 'open a box' and often use the same picture and prayers as previous years.
"People like their loved ones to be remembered," said Aine Fitzgerald, managing editor of the Limerick Leader, "and it gives them a little comfort. It's like visiting grave."
