Clodagh Finn: Funerals are much more about life than death

Strange as it may sound, there is something very uplifting about coming together to celebrate a life well lived

Jennifer Sleeman made international headlines when she called for a boycott of Mass to protest the lack of roles for women in the Catholic Church.

It's easy to forget that this is how it ends for all of us when you go to an Irish funeral. It often feels so much more buoyant than that, party-like even, with the buzz of animated chat, the breaking of bread afterwards, and the tears mixed with many outbursts of loud laughter.

But, then, isn’t that the point of it? Because what we are doing is giving the person the very best send-off possible. One they would have thoroughly enjoyed themselves.