While the preference for burials remains in Ireland as a whole, there is a growing trend towards direct cremation services followed with customized wakes.
Cremations only account for 19.61% (2017) of Ireland’s death care industry, but similar to the United States the tide is turning and cremation is growing in acceptance. The original UK direct cremation operator Pure Cremation, owned by husband and wife team Bryan and Catherine Powell were receiving more and more inquiries for their service in Northern Ireland and decided to take action and expand their service this year to meet the needs of patrons looking for alternative options.
Pure Cremation funerals cost start at $1,560 (£1,195) for a simple direct cremation arranged over the telephone with the hand delivery of the ashes afterwards. Which is reportedly 60% less than a traditional cremation in the UK. The Powells commented that: ̈A recent report showed that as many as one in 25 cremations in the mainland UK are now direct cremations and an even higher percentage of people say they are open to having a direct cremation or burial without any mourners present. ̈
The expansion and growth of Pure Cremation is a strong indicator to the Irish death care industry that there is an important transition coming and its important to begin anticipating clients needs and expanding current offerings.