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 2025 meetings are:
29th January, 26th February, 26th March, 30th April, 28th May, 25th June, 30th July, 27th August, 24th September, 29th October and 26th November
Pregnancy after Loss
Our zoom meetings take place on the third Tuesday of every month at 19:00. Our dates for our 2025 meetings are:
21st January, 18th February, 18th March, 15th April, 20th May, 17th June, 15th July, 19th August, 16th September, 21st October, 18th November and 16th 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
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 2025 meetings are:
20th January, 17th February, 17th March, 21st April, 19th May, 16th June, 21st July, 18th August, 15th September, 20th October, 17th November and 15th 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 Wreath Making Workshop will be on Tuesday 10th December in the Wilton Parish Centre from 7.30pm-9pm.
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 2025 meetings are:
30th January, 27th February, 27th March, 24th April, 29th May, 26th June, 31st July, 28th August, 25th September, 30th October and 27th November (Winter Workshop)
Galway:
Our Galway Support Meetings are held in the Connaught Hotel (H91K5DD) at 19:30-21:00. Our dates for our 2025 meetings are:
4th February, 1st April, 3rd June, 5th August, 7th October (Pumpkin Carving Workshop) and 2nd December (Winter Workshop)
Letterkenny:
Our Letterkenny Support Meetings will take place in the Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny between
19:30-21:00. Our dates for our 2025 meetings are:
13th March, 12th June, 11th of September, 11th of December (Winter Workshop)
Midlands:
Our Midlands Support Meetings will take place in the Annebrook House Hotel, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath between
19:30-21:00. Our dates for our 2025 meetings are:
5th March, 4th June, 3rd of September, 3rd of December (Winter Workshop)
Limerick:
Our Limerick Support Meetings will take place from 19.30-21.00. Our venue and dates for our 2025 meetings are:
6th March in the Greenhills Hotel, Limerick
5th June in the Radisson BLU, Ennis Road, Limerick
4th September in the Radisson BLU, Ennis Road, Limerick
4th December in the Green Hills Hotel, Limerick (Winter workshop)
Mayo:
Our Mayo Support Meetings will take place from 19.30-21.00. Our dates for our 2025 meetings are:
12th March in the Travellers Friend Hotel, Castlebar
11th June in Swinford Amenity Park, Swinford
10th September in Swinford Amenity Park, Swinford
10th December in the Travellers Friend Hotel, Castlebar (Winter workshop)
Services:
Our Galway Spring Service will take place on Sunday 9th March at 2pm in the Church of the Holy Family, Mervue, Galway. All Welcome.