EMBRACE FARM, the voluntary bereavement support group, is to establish a Mid West branch of the network for families affected by fatal and non-fatal accidents.
An information night will be held on Thursday, April 7 next in the Castleoaks Hotel, Castleconnell with a view to establishing a branch to support families who have had to deal with deaths and serious injury arising from farm incidents.
The event will be hosted by Angela Hogan, from Nenagh who will recount her own experience of joining the first support group in the Midlands two years ago to help her deal with the aftermath of her partner Brendan’s death in a tragic accident in 2011.
“Farm accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. People’s lives are changed forever and you have no choice but to try and soldier on.
“I found myself in such a position in 2011 when Brendan lost his life and it changed my and our two children’s lives forever. Our family and friends have been incredible support coming to terms with it all.
“Talking to other people who have either suffered the same dreadful experience or been affected by non-fatal accidents really helps. There’s fantastic solidarity in such a network and it’s not alone the emotional support you get but practical support also.
“The purpose of the Information Night in Castleconnell is to establish a support group in the Mid-West. Every county has been affected by farm accidents over recent years and I cannot emphasise enough the value of sharing your stories with others.”
Embrace FARM was founded by Laois farmer Brian Rohan after his father Liam died in a farm accident four years ago. Other groups have since been established in Galway and Cork and Mullingar.
“We have had a lot of requests across the country to establish new groups and this will be our fifth. It makes a huge difference to people to be able to share their woes so we would really ask people who are affected to join us next week in Castleconnell for a chat and a cup of tea”, he said.
