Sir, – Michael Harding's account of the Irish wake hits the spot ("The mysterious promise of a room with a corpse", Life, August 17th). He captures the sense and, apparent nonsense, of this important family and community event.
It set me thinking about how I behave as an “attender”. “Did she suffer?” “Was she older than Mary?” “Are they all home?” And the most important question, “Will she be buried in Finner?” Apparently in my area, real locals are buried in Finner and blow-ins are buried in Newtown.
A close friend admonished me one time, when I remarked on the crowd at the obsequies of a local grand dame, that the deceased was herself a “great attender”.
Death in rural Ireland is complex, precious, intimate and very special. I hope we never lose this sense of cultural place and respect.
May she rest in peace! – Yours, etc,
CORMAC MEEHAN,
Bundoran,
Co Donegal.