O'Flaherty Funeral Directors - Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1

What do I do when someone dies?

Accepted Answer

The first steps depend on where the person has passed. At home: Call the deceased's regular GP. A doctor is required by law to attend and pronounce the death — and only the regular GP can give the funeral director permission to bring the deceased into our care. You can call us on 091 582 349 at any point, before or after the doctor arrives, and we'll guide you through what happens next. In a hospital or nursing home: The on-site staff will arrange for the doctor. Call us at any time on 091 582 349 and we'll take care of the rest. After hours at home: An on-call doctor (such as Westdoc) will usually attend to pronounce the death, but they can't authorise the funeral director to proceed — only the regular GP can, the following morning.  It is perfectly fine for the deceased to remain at home until the morning. The following steps can be taken to ensure care and dignity until we arrive; Lay the deceased face-up in a restful position, arms by their side Place a pillow under the head so it's slightly raised Cover them lightly with a bed sheet Turn off any strong heaters in the room Unexpected or unusual circumstances: Contact the Gardaí. They'll assess the situation and inform the Coroner, who will decide on next steps. A post-mortem may be carried out at Galway University Hospital. Whatever the situation, you can call us on 091 582 349 and we'll help guide you.

Question 2

Cremation vs burial in Ireland — which should I choose?

Accepted Answer

Both are widely chosen in Ireland and there's no right or wrong answer — it comes down to your family's wishes, traditions, and circumstances. Burial remains the most traditional choice, particularly where families have an existing grave plot at a local cemetery such as Bohermore, Rahoon or Rinville in Galway. Cremation is becoming increasingly common across Ireland. The nearest crematorium to Galway is Shannon Crematorium, around an hour's drive, and many families find the flexibility of cremation appealing — ashes can be interred, scattered, or kept in a place that holds meaning. There's no extra burden on you to decide alone.  Call us on 091 582 349 and we'll talk you through both options and help you arrive at the right decision for your family.

Question 3

How do I get a death certificate in Galway?

Accepted Answer

A death must be registered before a death certificate can be issued. In Galway, this is done at the HSE Civil Registration Office, 25 Newcastle Road, Galway (or online via civilregistrationservice.ie). You'll need the Death Notification Form (obtained from the attending doctor) and the deceased's PPS number. Registration is free; certificates cost €20 each, and you'll typically need several copies for banks, insurers, and probate. Most families benefit from getting 3–5 copies. We'll guide you through the process and timing — call us on 091 582 349 if you'd like help.

Question 4

Catholic funeral traditions in Ireland

Accepted Answer

A traditional Catholic funeral in Ireland typically follows three stages: Reposing & Removal — the deceased is laid out at our funeral parlour or in the family home for people to come and pay their respects. Traditionally after a reposing, the deceased would then be “removed” to the Church, however more commonly today, the deceased is brought to the Church the morning of the Funeral Mass.  Funeral Mass — a Requiem Mass is celebrated for the deceased at the deceased’s parish church, with readings, hymns, and Eucharist. Burial or cremation — The Mass is followed by interment at a local cemetery, or cremation with later interment of ashes. Local customs vary across Galway parishes and we are familiar with all. We know the priests, churches, and cemeteries across Galway City and County. For any questions, call us on 091 582 349 and a member of our team will discuss with you in more detail.

Question 5

What is a humanist funeral?

Accepted Answer

A humanist funeral is a non-religious ceremony that celebrates the life of the person who has died, without reference to a particular faith. Led by our experienced funeral directors, or a celebrant of your choice, the service is built around the person's story, values, and the people they loved. These ceremonies are deeply personal — readings, music, and tributes are all chosen by the family. They can take place in a wide range of settings, from our purpose built funeral parlour or crematoria. We've helped many Galway families plan humanist farewells. Call us on 091 582 349 to talk it through.

Question 6

How much does a funeral cost in Galway in 2026?

Accepted Answer

Funeral costs vary greatly depending on your family's wishes, whether you have an existing grave plot, media and flower preferences, and other personal choices.   A Direct cremation in Galway typically starts at €2,500  Traditional Funeral Arrangements typically cost between €4,000 - €8,000 depending on disbursements Detailed/Bespoke Funeral Arrangements often exceed €8,000 with a large portion allocated to disbursements   Disbursements are 3rd party payments made by the funeral director on your behalf such as flowers, music, cemetery/cremation fees, medical forms etc. It is worth knowing that a significant portion of any funeral bill goes towards disbursements. At O’Flaherty Funeral Directors, we do not add a mark up to disbursements, these are handled within our service fee. However, we may ask for a pre-payment of disbursements in advance of the funeral.   For a better idea about costs tailored to your family's circumstances, call us on 091 582 349.

Question 7

How do I arrange a funeral in Ireland?

Accepted Answer

Once a doctor has been notified of the death, your next call is to a funeral director. We'll guide you through every step from there. You're welcome to call us first for guidance, or at any stage of the process - we're here to help, 24 hours a day, on 091 582 349.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions

Most Asked Questions

What do I do when someone dies?

Cremation vs burial in Ireland — which should I choose?

How do I get a death certificate in Galway?

All Questions (7)

What do I do when someone dies?

Cremation vs burial in Ireland — which should I choose?

How do I get a death certificate in Galway?

Catholic funeral traditions in Ireland

What is a humanist funeral?

How much does a funeral cost in Galway in 2026?

How do I arrange a funeral in Ireland?