The death of a baby during pregnancy or shortly after birth is devastating and the emotional pain is indescribable for all involved. The words of well meaning friends or relations can seem empty. In the early days of grief you are surrounded by friends and family. However as time moves on, people gradually return to their normal lives. You may feel that you cannot speak about your baby as often as you would like. You think that nobody can understand what you are going through, but you are not alone. Féileacáin support meetings are open to all parents affected by the death of a baby. Our meetings are informal; they are simply a place where you can come and meet others on the same journey as you. Parents obtain great comfort from knowing that they can come to a meeting and everybody else there will understand what they are feeling. Only those who have been through the pain of stillbirth or neonatal death can understand it. The meetings are a place where you can come and speak freely without fear of judgement. There is no pressure on anyone at a meeting to speak; it is up to you how much or how little you say. All our meetings are facilitated by our trained befrienders, who themselves are bereaved parents and provide you with a safe place to remember your baby and hopefully to find comfort in the company of other bereaved parents.
Upcoming Support Meetings and Events
We have expanded our support services to include Online Zoom Support Meetings in addition to our in-person Support Meetings.
If you would like any information on Support Meetings, then please email our office – admin@feileacain.ie and we will send you on any information you need.
Zoom Meetings:
Our support group zoom meetings usually take place on the last Wednesday of every month at 19.30-21.00. Our dates for our 2024 meetings are:
31st January, 28th February, 27th March, 24th April, 29th May, 26th June, 31st July, 28th August, 25th September, 24th October* and 27th November
Pregnancy after Loss/Trying to Conceive
Our zoom meetings take place on the third Tuesday of every month at 19:00. Our dates for our 2024 meetings are:
16th April, 21st May, 18th June, 16th July, 20th August, 17th September, 15th October, 19th November and 17th December
If you are interested in attending this meeting, please register with Jill by emailing jill@feileacain.ie
Parents Whose Only Children Live in their Hearts
A new group for will start in April. This support group is for those whose only child(ren) live in their hearts and they don’t expect to have any living children in the future. These meetings will take place online on the third Monday of each month from 19.00-20.30. Our dates for our 2024 meetings are:
15th April, 20th May, 17th June, 15th July, 19th August, 16th September, 21st October, 18th November and 16th December.
For more information or to register please email Nina at nina@feileacain.ie
In Person Support Meetings:
Cork:
Our Cork Support Meetings will usually take place on the second Tuesday of every month in the Wilton Parish Centre at 19:30-21:00. Our dates for our 2024 meetings are:
9th January, 13th February, 12th March, 9th April, 14th May, 11th June, 9th July, 13th August, 10th September, 8th October and 12th November
There are also 2 workshops planned for the year:
Our Halloween Workshop will be held on Saturday 26th October in the Wilton Parish Centre from 1-4pm.
Our Christmas Workshop will be on Saturday 14th December in the Wilton Parish Centre from 1-4pm.
Dublin:
Our Dublin Support Meetings usually take place on the last Thursday of every month in the Ashling Hotel, Parkgate Street. 19:30-21:00. Our dates for our 2024 meetings are:
25th January, 29th February, 28th March, 25th April, 30th May, 27th June, 25th July, 29th August, 26th September,30th October (Wednesday), 28th November and 19th December (Wreath Making Workshop)
Galway:
Our Galway Support Meetings are held in the Connaught Hotel (H91K5DD) at 19:30-21:00. Our dates for the rest of our 2024 meetings are:
29th October (Pumpkin Carving Workshop)
17th December (Christmas Workshop)
Midlands:
Our 2024 Midlands support meetings will take place in the Anne brook Hotel, Mullingar from 19.30-21.00. Our dates for the rest of our 2024 meetings are:
September 19th (regular meeting)
December 12th (Christmas workshop)
Mayo:
Our 2024 Mayo support meetings will take place at either the Travellers Friend Castlebar or the Swinford Amenity Park, Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo.
Limerick
Our 2024 Limerick support meetings will take place at either The Greenhills Hotel, Ennis Road V94 X2RV 19:30-21:00 OR Radisson Blu, Limerick
Our dates for the rest of our 2024 meetings are:
23rd October 7.30-9.00 – Radisson Blu Hotel (Support meeting)
12th December 7.30-9.00 – Green Hills Hotel, Limerick (Winter Workshop)
Letterkenny, Co Donegal
Our 2024 Letterkenny support meetings will take place Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny between
19:30-21:00. Our dates for the rest of our 2024 meetings are:
24th October (Pumpkin Carving Workshop)
10th of December (Winter Workshop)