12.04.2026
Every family’s journey through grief following the death of a child is unique. Each person in a family misses the person they love in a different way– as a cherished child, a beloved sibling, a darling grandchild. At our Barretstown family days, each of these special relationships is honoured and given space to be seen. Family Remembrance Days give families the chance to make memories together, recognising there is an empty seat beside them.
We remembered each child, Ava, Alfie, Zoe (in sparkly pink), with a stone placed beneath a silver birch. A symbol of resilience, transformation, and continued growth through change. Through this ceremony of remembrance, the presence of these family members is made into something you can hold in your hand again. We were honoured to have Peter Hanlon, bereavement therapist and long-time facilitator with Anam Cara, lead this ceremony. Being able to speak to the not only the loss experienced by these families, but the love and life they remember.
One of the most truly transformative parts of Barretstown is what comes after the ceremony. There is no pretence here, no need to pretend that life is as it was before. But there is the opportunity for play, lightness, and for families to feel normal among others who truly understand. To craft, to canoe, to learn archery as father and son. Spiderman decorates cupcakes, rainbows arc over craft tables– in short, magic happens here.
Especially in the face of traffic and transport disruptions, we are so incredibly grateful for all our partners and each volunteer at Barretstown who so generously gave of their time, compassion, and enthusiasm to transform this day into something spectacular. Barretstown and the Anam Cara Family Remembrance Days matter because they transform the memories of loved ones into something we can celebrate and something we can share. To each family who attended, thank you for sharing your family’s story with us. Thank you for being so brave in telling other families at different points on their journey what helped you. Thank you for being the cornerstone of this community.