Libraries NI invites the public to explore how death has been experienced through the lenses of history, culture and community

Libraries NI invites the public to explore how death has been experienced through the lenses of history, culture and community
Published 04 Nov 2025

Let's talk about Death, Dying and Grief

Libraries NI is inviting the public to take part in a thought-provoking week of events and discussions exploring how death has been understood across time and cultures.

Running from Monday 17 to Friday 21 November 2025, Let’s Talk About… Death, Dying and Grief will feature a diverse programme of talks, workshops, exhibitions, and storytelling events taking place in libraries and online.

The initiative aims to examine conversations around death, dying and bereavement, looking at how different communities, past and present, have marked loss, honoured the dead, and found meaning in mortality.

Confirmed speakers include Professor Gabriel Cooney (UCD) on prehistoric burial practices in Ireland, Dr Nisha Tandon (ArtsEkta) on cultural attitudes to death around the world, and Professor Eileen Murphy (QUB) on children’s burial grounds in Ireland. Visitors can also enjoy storytelling sessions on Irish wake traditions, music and folklore events, and online talks exploring topics from ancient Egypt to the American Wake.

Alongside these events, a special exhibition titled ‘Famous Last Words: Reflections on Life, Death and Legacy’ will be on display in libraries across Northern Ireland, bringing together powerful and memorable final words from history, literature, and popular culture.

Speaking about the initiative, Chief Executive of Libraries NI Dr Jim O’Hagan said:

“Death and grief are universal experiences and yet they’re often surrounded by silence. This programme is about creating open, welcoming spaces to reflect, share stories, and learn from how people across history and cultures have faced death, and in doing so, celebrated life.”

The week will also include a practical Advanced Planning Workshop, delivered in partnership with Compassionate Communities and Macmillan, offering advice on how to prepare for the future and support loved ones through loss.

All events are free of charge, and leaflets and reading lists will be available in libraries and online with details of organisations offering further information and support.


There are two online events available:

Displaying the Dead: Human Remains from the Ancient Egypt at the Ulster Museum.
Thursday 20 November from 12 noon - 1:00pm.
Register here.


Ireland of a Thousand Goodbyes: The America Wake and Memories of Mass Emigration.
Thursday 20 November from 7:00pm - 8:00pm.
Register here.


Events

Event Name Event Details Start Date and Time End Date and Time Library Booking
Faith Funerals  

From ritual to remembrance, faith shapes how we say goodbye. Facilitators from ArtsEkta share insights into funeral traditions across cultures and religions, exploring how diverse
beliefs find common ground in honouring the departed.

Facilitators: ArtsEkta is a multi-award-winning intercultural arts organisation and the team behind the Belfast Mela. Their work celebrates cultural diversity and human connection through creativity and shared experience.

Booking essential.

t: 028 9050 9228

 20/11/2025 1:00pm 20/11/2025 2:00pm Ormeau Road Library See event details to check if booking is essential (phone/email). Otherwise, if the event is not virtual (via Zoom) then simply call into the library at the time of the event.
Plan Ahead Workshop By Compassionate Communities NI  

The Plan Ahead Workshop is a key initiative from Compassionate Communities NI, created to empower individuals and families to make informed choices about their future care.
In this 1.5-hour session, participants are introduced to the four essential components of Advance Care Planning: Personal • Legal • Clinical • Financial.


The workshop offers practical tools and guidance to help people think about, record, and communicate their wishes with clarity and confidence — ensuring their values and preferences are respected.


Booking is essential please email sharon@compassionatecommunitiesni.com

 

 20/11/2025 2:00pm 20/11/2025 4:00pm Derry Central Library See event details to check if booking is essential (phone/email). Otherwise, if the event is not virtual (via Zoom) then simply call into the library at the time of the event.
The Irish Wake  

Cushendun storyteller Stephen O’Hara returns to share more 
tales and traditions surrounding the Irish wake, from heartfelt 
customs to haunting folklore. This is an evening rich in 
memory, myth and meaning.

 

Booking essential.

t: 028 9083 3797
e: glengormley.library@librariesni.org.uk 
 

 20/11/2025 6:30pm 20/11/2025 7:30pm Glengormley Library See event details to check if booking is essential (phone/email). Otherwise, if the event is not virtual (via Zoom) then simply call into the library at the time of the event.
Children’s Burial Grounds (Cillíní) and the Early Modern Religious Landscape  

Uncover the poignant story of Ireland’s children’s burial grounds, sacred spaces outside consecrated land that reflect faith, exclusion and resilience.

Professor Eileen Murphy sheds light on these quiet resting places and the
lives they represent in Ireland’s religious past.

Speaker: Professor Eileen Murphy is a leading bioarchaeologist whose
research focuses on how human remains reveal the lives of past peoples.
She is the founding editor of Childhood in the Past, an international journal
exploring children’s experiences through history.

Booking essential.

t: 028 9050 9223

 21/11/2025 11:00am 21/11/2025 12 noon Lisburn Road Library See event details to check if booking is essential (phone/email). Otherwise, if the event is not virtual (via Zoom) then simply call into the library at the time of the event.
Irish Wakes' Storytelling Session with Stephen O'Hara  

Experience storytelling steeped in Irish folklore as Stephen 
O’Hara explores the customs, humour and humanity of the 
traditional wake. This is a moving reminder of how communities 
once gathered to celebrate life in the face of loss.

Booking essential. 
t: 028 7083 2712
e: portstewart.library@librariesni.org.uk 

 21/11/2025 11:00am 21/11/2025 12 noon Portstewart Library See event details to check if booking is essential (phone/email). Otherwise, if the event is not virtual (via Zoom) then simply call into the library at the time of the event.