New Cork funeral service

A new family-run funeral home is to open in Cork City, the first such business to start from the ground up in several decades.

Behind the venture on Copley Street is John Keohane, who’s run an electrical contracting business for over 25 years. He’s just taken on a lease via agents Lisney on the former OK Tool Hire premises and yard opposite the old Brooks Haughton premises, and says employment initially will be three to four persons, family-centred, involving himself, his wife Rosaleen and other family members.

His own father, Jerome, who’s now 90, was a carpenter and worked for some time as an undertaker, while his late mother Nellie Keohane ran the Crúiscín Lán bar for a number of years on nearby Douglas Street.

It’s estimated that there are up to 650 undertakers nationwide, of which the most active 250 or so are in the Irish Association of Funeral Directors. There hasn’t been a start-up in the greater Cork area for many years, the last being Crowleys in Ballincollig almost 20 years ago.

A IAFD spokesperson (who run FETAC courses for their members) said a number of new start-ups had been recorded recently.

Mr Keohane said he spent a lot of time with extended West Cork family where he first developed an interest in the undertaking business, and notes a return to a preference of home-centred and personalised funerals.

Planning permission for change of use of the old OK Tool Hire shop was granted over the summer months, with parking to the rear for up to 30 cars. Lisneys had been seeking a rent of around €35,000 pa.

Details: Keohane Funeral Services 021-4311000, Lisney 021-4275079