Evening removal services dying out as funerals evolve

The traditional practice of evening removal services in churches as part of Irish funerals is dying out.

The Irish Association of Funeral Directors has seen a marked drop in the number of evening removal services where the body of a loved one is removed to a church for prayers and left there overnight until the funeral Mass the following morning.

In Dublin, the majority of funerals now go straight to the church on the day of the burial.