A number of families have been upset to discover that they cannot attend ceremonies in the chapels attached to some of the country's nine crematoria since the issuing of Covid-19 funeral guidelines.
Smaller crematoria have shut their chapels or service rooms altogether, while larger chapels such as those at Glasnevin and Mount Jerome remain open but are adhering strictly to the HSE mandated maximum of ten mourners.
However, mourners cannot attended if the death is Covid-19 related, but some crematoria are screening the service via Skype.
Dara O'Callaghan of the Shannon Crematorium in Clare said they had to take the "very difficult" decision to close their chapel last Friday in the interest of staff safety.
"We are there to support people at the most difficult of times, but with the current climate, and considering the worst-case scenario, we have to be prepared."
Mr O'Callaghan explained that the crematorium has three staff and if any of them got sick they would have to shut down, meaning cremations would not be available in the west of the Ireland.
He said the service will be needed and they had to look at the bigger picture when making this decision, but that it was heartbreaking and very difficult.
"I would love to bring people into our chapel to give them that home comfort but we cannot do it," he said.
There, as at other crematoria, the family can accompany the hearse to the crematorium, where they get an opportunity to say their goodbyes before the body is taken away to be cremated.
At the Island Crematorium in Cork, Brian Johnson said that while they have had to shut their service room until further notice, they are allowing families into the inner courtyard where they can say their goodbyes.
"It was a very difficult decision we had to make," he said.
"We know people will be upset but we have done this with the best of intentions and the reality is that we have to keep the crematorium open.
"People are at their emotional lowest but we have to be conscious that this is a dangerous and deadly virus and the safety of our staff and the public has to be our priority."
The chapels at Glasnevin, Dardistown and Newlands Cross remain open because of their size but they are adhering strictly to the HSE guidelines of a maximum of ten people exercising social distancing, attending their services.
The three cremators at Mount Jerome in Dubin remain operational, but only one chapel is open.
At the Lakelands Funeral Home and Crematorium in Co Cavan, Declan Finnegan said prayer services are still taking place but not for people who died due to Covid-19.
Mr Finnegan says they are beginning to see a rise in the number of Covid-19 related deaths locally.
He said this is the hardest he has ever seen it, but that staff and the families had to be protected.
Ashes are being returned to the funeral directors and the likelihood, he said, is that the memorial masses or services will take place in the future and bring some comfort.
