They came from the four corners of Ireland – families bereaved by farm accident – to meet in the Church of the Most Holy Rosary, Abbeyleix, Co Laois, for the fifth year running.

They were there for the annual ecumenical remembrance service organised by Embrace, the farm accident support network.

This registered charity was set up by Brian and Norma Rohan in 2013 following the death of Brian’s father, Liam.

Those who attended came along to support one another in their grief, to seek peace, comfort and consolation at the service and, most importantly, to throw the still-needed spotlight on farm safety. The number of farm accidents has risen by 13% in the last five years and by 31% in the past decade.

The sun today is in stark contrast to the darkness in our hearts

On the day, the glorious sunshine seemed at odds with the gravity of the event, as parish priest of Abbeyleix Fr John Cummins pointed out in his welcome. “The sun today is in stark contrast to the darkness in our hearts,” he said.

Political representatives were there, as were all farm leaders, north and south, to lead the prayers and participate in a service that included the lighting of candles to represent the country-wide and cross-border nature of farm tragedies.

Representatives from the Department of Agriculture, Teagasc and the Health and Safety Authority were also in attendance. An Taoiseach was represented by his aide-de-camp (ADC) Commandant David Murphy.

Tree of life

Outside the church before the service, one family member pointed out the tree of hope planted last year using soil brought by all the bereaved families. During this year’s service, another tree again took on a central role – the white Tree of Life. Midway through the service, a stream of grieving people moved forward to hang a feather-shaped tag on its special branches – a tag that bore the name of the loved one they’d lost to a farm accident. That stream was a sobering sight.

Hearing the long list of names of people who had died through farm accidents in the past five years being read out, one after another, was deeply moving too, especially knowing that it wasn’t the full list. Some families don’t openly seek support.

Young son

Another poignant moment in the service was when the Taoiseach’s ADC presented a wreath to the Higgins family from Co Offaly in memory of their young son James. It would later be taken to his grave to represent all the final resting places of loved ones lost to farming accidents.

As well as the calling out of names and the symbolism, signs were a theme of the service and mentioned by the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin the Most Reverend Denis Nulty, who gave the address. He is a farmer’s son and his knowledge of farming was obvious.

Stating that "too many families were missing loved ones from their supper tables", he went on to say that he is "as aware as the next of the shortcuts that are taken on farms in the name of expediency and efficiency" but that sadly result in tragedy.

The numbers dying are still too great

The many headlines and newspaper column inches in recent years "don’t fully address the enormous grief that so many of you this Sunday afternoon are carrying" he told the congregation.

“Despite the heroic efforts by the Embrace team, led by Brian and Norma, and so many here, the numbers dying are still too great,” he said. “One death is one too many for a farming family.”

Echoing St Luke’s gospel, he went on to talk about how farmers were good at reading the signs of nature. Yet in these modern times, we need to look around and see the signs more clearly, ie the dangers in farm workplaces.

“I don’t think farmers are any more careless or distracted than any other profession,” he said. “It’s just that their place of work carries with it huge hazards.”

Danger signs

He said that there should be several danger signs erected on a typical farm – near the slurry pit, near animal pens, PTO shafts, to stop people sitting on top of loads of baled hay, near the bull pen, at the shed where the cow has just calved...

He also drew attention to the 50% of fatalities related to machinery in 2017.

“You can’t operate a huge mechanical machine plugged in to earphones,” he said. “You must plug out (read the signs), be completely aware of your surroundings… of what’s working behind you or in front of you.”

Before you enter a pen or cross the gate, or before we go into the crush ask yourself is it safe?

He also spoke of the danger of working with animals.

“It’s not as much the bull now, more often it’s the cow or the heifer. Before you enter a pen or cross the gate, or before we go into the crush, ask yourself is it safe? Is it secure? Am I on my own or is someone else here if I’m in trouble?” he said.

Reflections read by family members at the service included I am still with you and why god made a farmer and the music co-ordinator was Tina Cuddy.

The service was preceded by get-togethers on Saturday that included a talk on coping with bereavement. Sunday’s event was followed by refreshments and an opportunity to meet others affected by farm accident in the Manor Hotel.

Embrace is now a fully-registered charity and is contacted by 130 families annually.

See Embrace Farm or email embrace.farm@gmail.com or text 086-838 1427.

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‘You never stop missing him’ - farm accidents remember