False Fr. David Brough, Rev. Paul Steiner & Rev. Bruce Pierce Beautiful hand crocheted angels made for the tree by Mrs. Pat McQuaid from the local community of Francis Street. Ann Cannaing, Margaret Coughan, Pauline O’Gorman, Eileen Gaynor & Mary Ryan Members of National Executive of ISANDSs Ann Maguire Lydia & Neil O’Neill Jamie Lee & Joanne Curtis Kay Purdy isands newsletter 35

False Lovely to be part of Local Communities remembering children who have died in their Communities. ISANDS were invited and delighted to participate in several Services of Remembrance around the country over the winter months organised by Health Care Professionals, Parish Based Teams, National Support Groups and Local Communities. National Maternity Hospital Annual Service of Remembrance Margaret Coughlan, Member of the National Executive of ISANDS represented ISANDS at the Service of Remembrance of the National Maternity Hospital on 2nd September. Invited by Loretta Reilly, Principal Social Worker, N. M. H, to participate, Margaret carried a symbol of leaves to the Altar. It was a beautiful Service and attended by hundreds of parents and families. Many thanks to Loretta, the rest of the team in the Social Work Department, Chaplaincy Department and all the members of staff in the National Maternity Hospital for their continued support to bereaved parents. Miscarriage Association of Ireland Service of Remembrance Miscarriage Association of Ireland also invited ISANDS to join them at their special Service of Remembrance in November. A huge amount of parents and families attend each year and as there is little recognition for parents who have had the experience of a baby born too soon it must be good for them to attend a Service like this. Our thanks to June O’Toole, National Chairperson of the Miscarriage Association for including us and well done to everyone involved. Service of Remembrance- Church of the Good Shepherd, Churchtown Rev. Fr. John Kileen, P. P. Church of the Good Shepherd, Churchtown invited ISANDS to speak at their annual Service for Remembrance on the 16th November. Brid Egan, a member of ISANDS Support Team gave a moving account of her son, Liam’s short life, how they coped as a family and her role now providing support to other bereaved families. Our thanks to Fr. Kileen for recognising the need to hold Service like this, including us and giving us the opportunity to support families locally. Service of Remembrance- Our Lady of Good Council Church, Drimnagh Rev. Father Martin Cosgrove, P. P. Our Lady of Good Council, Drimnagh invited a speaker form ISANDS to take part in a Mass of Remembrance on the 24th November. It was the fi rst time that Mass in the Church specifi cally remembered the death of a baby through, miscarriage abortion, stillbirth, cot death or illness. Romy Moloney former National Chairperson of ISANDS represented us at the Service and shared a brief insight of her loss when her daughter Katie died and how her loss brought her to being involved with ISANDS. Fr. Cosgrove hopes to make the Mass an annual event. Well done to all concerned and I’m sure everyone who attended appreciated it as there are few families who have not been affected by this type of loss. Service of Remebrance- Queen of Peace Church, Bray Fr. Larry White, PP. Queen of Peace Church, Bray, Co Wicklow organised a Service of Remembrance on the 25th November. Three parishes amalgamated; parents and families gathered together to remember their children in prayer, scripture, music and song in Queen of Peace Church in Bray. Damien Moloney, a member of ISANDS Support Team, spoke on behalf of ISANDS, but more importantly shared his story of his daughter, Lucy. It was lovely to have a story from a dad as very often the focus tends to be on the story of a mother. It was a beautiful Service and I believe it is to be an annual event, with one of the three parishes hosting it each year. Our thanks to the Priests, Reverends, other Church Representatives, Health Care Professionals and other Parent and Bereavement Support Groups for inviting ISANDS Representatives to take part in their special Days of Remembering. isands newsletter 36