This inaugural Ecumenical Remembrance Service for the victims of farm accidents and their bereaved families, friends and neighbours will take place in the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Abbeyleix, Co. Laois onSunday June 29 at 2pm.
An Ecumenical Service of Readings, Prayer and Song will be celebrated by both Catholic and Church of Ireland clergy led by Bishops Denis Nulty (RC)* and supported by Michael Burrows (Church of Ireland).**
Keynote speakers from Agri organisations, Counsellors and families directly impacted by farming accidents. Tea and refreshments kindly sponsored by IFA
Four International Rugby players involved in farming will be Provincial Ambassadors for Embrace and will also take part in the Service. They are Rory Best of Ulster, Sean O’Brien of Leinster, John Hayes of Munster and John Muldoon of Connacht.
Almost 300 adults and children have lost their lives in farming accidents on the island of Ireland over the past 10 years.
The Rohan family was forcefully made aware of these facts on the 19th of June 2012 when their Dad, Liam Rohan was tragically involved in an accident on the family farm near Shanahoe in Co. Laois and sadly passed away three days later.
Liam Rohan was well known in farming circles as he represented the Republic of Ireland four times in the World Ploughing Championship, 1982 in Australia, 1985 in Denmark, 1987 in Austria and 1988 in the USA.
According to his son Brian “we quickly came to realise that there is little or no support available to families that have lost loved ones by way of emotional, practical, business, legal and financial advice.”
Farming is the country’s most dangerous job so in honour of these people “my wife Norma and I are organising a Remembrance Service on June 29. We will also remember all those who have survived serious accidents.
Our aim is to create more awareness of farm safety especially as primary schools get their summer holidays around this time.”
The aim is to develop this event into an annual remembrance at Provincial level and to develop various support structures to help families come to terms with the irreplaceable loss of their loved ones.
According to Brian “we hope to do this by growing EMBRACE FARM (Farming Accidents – Remembered & Missed) as a support group for all those affected by farming accidents.”
Brian, Norma (from Broadford, Co. Limerick) and the Rohan family have received tremendous support from Agribusiness, farm organisations, GAA, FTMTA, Health and Safety Authority, National Ploughing Association,Teagasc in their efforts to make the Embrace Remembrance Service a success.
Families are encouraged to contact Embrace with names of their loved ones who have died from a farming accident so their names can to be read out on the day.