The message was clear. Women in agriculture can play a greater role in helping to reduce the number of deaths on Irish farms, according to Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney.

The Minister was speaking shortly after the second annual Embrace Farm remembrance service, which took place in Abbeyleix, Co Laois, on Sunday.

He said: “There were so many grieving wives, they’ve seen the love of their life disappear,” adding that farmers’ wives and mothers are “trying to pick up the pieces [and] manage their families on their own”. He said farmers “need mothers and wives demanding a change in attitudes of their husbands, sons and daughters”.

The Minister continued: “The power of farming women in Ireland is incredible. I think it’s something we haven’t focused on enough in farm safety. If I know farm women in Ireland, they make a lot of decisions. They need to start making more decisions on farm safety. We will support them on grant aid and legislation, but ultimately a mindset change is required.”

Powerful

The service was powerful, emotive and moving. Most of all, however, it was necessary.

A total of 114 names were read out at the ceremony. Each of these people died while on Irish farms over the past number of years. The service also heard from those who have been touched by farm death, including Diane Banville. Diane lost her husband Kevin on St Patrick’s Day in 2014, when their youngest child was just two weeks old.

The collective sense of grief yet unity was immense.

The Embrace Farm organisation was established by Brian and Norma Rohan from Co Laois. Brian lost his father following a farm accident. The tragic death led to the establishment of Embrace – a service to support the families of those who have lost loved ones as a result of farm accidents.

Brian spoke of pride in the farming community shortly after the service.

“It was a very sad service, but it was great to see so many people coming together,” Brian told the Irish Farmers Journal.

“People came from across the country to share their experiences with us. People knew that they weren’t alone, that there was somebody sitting beside them who had a similar situation to them. If 50 people come away from today knowing that they have support, then it will be worthwhile,” Brian added.

For Eugene Hogan, who works with Embrace Farm, this year’s service was especially poignant. On 24 July 2014, Dermot’s brother Eugene died while working on a farmyard shed roof. Dermot was an employee of the ABP plant in Cahir, Co Tipperary.

“I never thought we’d be here, if I’m being honest with you,” Eugene said.

“Dermot is gone from us nearly a year now and it’s good to know that we have this support here, [that] there is a service which is dedicated.”

Farming was well represented on the day. Among the 700 in attendance at the service were representatives from the IFA, the ICMSA, the ICSA and Macra na Feirme.

Chairman and founder of beef processors ABP Larry Goodman also showed up to support the service. Goodman was accompanied by senior ABP staff including Finbarr McDonnell, Don O’Brien and Seamus Banim.

Goodman is known to take a keen interest in farm safety. He backed the recent “What’s left behind” video series documenting the effects on families following farm deaths and is understood to keep press clippings of farm deaths as a reminder of the dangers on farms.