Loved ones to be remembered at Embrace FARM annual service

EMBRACE FARM will host its annual ecumenical remembrance service on Sunday, 28 June, bringing together farm families from across Ireland to remember loved ones lost within their community, while offering a shared space for reflection and support.

Now in its 13th year, the service has become a cornerstone event for the not-for-profit organisation Embrace FARM, which was established by husband and wife Brian and Norma Rohan in 2014 following the tragic loss of Brian’s father Liam in a farming accident.

The organisation supports the farming community and families who, like Brian and Norma, have experienced serious injury and sudden death on Ireland’s farms.

Since the first annual remembrance service in 2014, the network has expanded to support more than 700 farm families nationwide.

A central element of the service remains the remembrance roll call, where the names of loved ones are read aloud in tribute. Embrace FARM is inviting families across the country to submit names for inclusion.

Last year, 377 names were called out during the service, reflecting the far-reaching impact of loss within the farming community.

As 2026 has been designated the International Year of the Woman Farmer, this year’s service will also recognise the vital and often unseen role of women within farming life, particularly in the context of care, loss and resilience.

64 per cent of those engaging with Embrace FARM’s supports are female. In addition, 110 women are currently part of the organisation’s dedicated Widows Support Group.

Catherine Kenneally, Embrace FARM, said: “Our remembrance service creates a space where families can come together in understanding and support. It is a place where every name read aloud represents a life deeply loved and remembered.

“This year, we are particularly conscious of the role of women in farming families - as carers, supporters and often the steady force guiding families forward in the most difficult of times. Their strength and resilience are central to the farming community.” The service will take place on Sunday, 29 June, in the Church of the Most Holy Rosary in Abbeyleix, Co. Laois, and will be live streamed on the Embrace FARM Facebook page enabling families nationwide to watch.

To include a loved one in this year’s Remembrance Service, families can call or WhatsApp 085-7709966, or email info@embracefarm.com with the name, county, year of death, and a photograph if available.