Aetheism, a funeral, Donegal and Derry

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Aetheism, a funeral, Donegal and Derry

Postby Mary G » Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:41 pm

This is a current news item ... but because it is not about Kintyre, I refrained from putting it in the 'Local News' section. I considered 'House of Fun' becuase it made me laugh so much. But my final decision is that it belongs here.

I will post the full text, but you can also find it here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ire ... 588035.stm. I am a reasonably regular church-goer, and I found the second-last sentence hilarious. :)

No atheist burials in Co Donegal

A Donegal atheist had to be buried in Londonderry because the county has no facilities for non-religious burials.

Journalist Roy Greenslade's mother was buried in Ballyowen cemetery in Derry on Tuesday after a humanist service.

He said he was told atheists could not be buried in Donegal because the graveyards are church-owned.

"Therefore unless one is willing to compromise one's beliefs by agreeing to a religious service, it is impossible to be buried," he said.

"There is a degree of black comedy about this, and my mother, who had a fantastic sense of humour, would certainly have laughed.

"When I rang up and asked Derry City Council's cemeteries department if it was possible to bury an atheist in a municipal cemetery they said it was possible because there were different sections for Catholics, Protestants and Muslims.

"My wife asked if it meant they were going to start an atheist section and the woman said, 'oh no, she can go in with the Protestants'."

A spokesperson from Donegal County Council said it is only responsible for old and unused graveyards.
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Re: Aetheism, a funeral, Donegal and Derry

Postby Govangirl » Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:20 pm

Mary G wrote: I am a reasonably regular church-goer, and I found the second-last sentence hilarious. :)


:lol: Yes, that made me laugh out loud!!! Actually, I was at a Humanist funeral a few weeks ago and I really wasn't sure about it at all beforehand, having a faith myself, but it was really moving and a very respectful send-off.
I believe totally in 'good' funerals :)
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Re: Aetheism, a funeral, Donegal and Derry

Postby Ags » Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:48 pm

I fully believe in "good" funerals too GG!! My aunt passed away early last year and though she didn't have a religous background, there was a chuch service with a hugely "musical" theme. Her daughter and her husband spoke, her son and my mother (her sister) performed a musical piece which meant a lot to the family!! And then we had a good old fashioned "ceilidh"!! Too much to drink but good song, music and a wee bit of dance!
We also recently attended the funeral of an extremely young friend who died very suddenly....his brother and his best friend both read tributes at the service where we laughed our socks off (amid the sobs) and clapped loudly at what they had to say!! As we rose to leave the crematorium, we did so to the words and tune of "THE SHOW MUST GO ON" BY QUEEN!!
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Re: Aetheism, a funeral, Donegal and Derry

Postby Govangirl » Mon Sep 01, 2008 12:10 am

Lovely. Aye, whatever you believe or don't believe, you need a good funeral. Strange how most of us don't arrange our own. I guess we'd need to keep updating it mind you.
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Re: Aetheism, a funeral, Donegal and Derry

Postby Ags » Mon Sep 01, 2008 8:08 pm

I really shouldn't whitter on here when sipping wine :oops: ....didn't say anything too bad though :oops: and I did have a chuckle at your post MaryG!
When we attended the funeral of our friend earlier this summer, his wife had a "memory book" for everybody to write their favourite memories. They have two wee boys who are just 4 and 2 and probably won't remember very much of their dad, so basically this is for them in the future! I thought it was a lovely idea and probably a comfort for the rest of the family to read too!
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Re: Aetheism, a funeral, Donegal and Derry

Postby katya » Tue Sep 02, 2008 3:25 pm

You couldn't actually make that up could you? Quite hilarious!
Ags, I too attended your Aunt's funeral and was commenting to someone only yesterday how fantastic a celebration it had been. Having known her for many years through the drama, the service was absolutely perfect - from the colours theme to the music.
A memory book is a great idea, particularly in the case of the family of your friend. I also think that arranging your own is brilliant, luckily most of us don't know when it will happen, but it would take enormous pressure off families at a very upsetting time.
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