nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

Child Item

Funeral processions and traffic

elfy4eva

Earlier today I got the bus when coming home from town. I noticed the bus was taking an unusually long time to arrive and that there was a lack of oncoming traffic. I assumed there was an traffic accident up the road. About five minutes later I catch a glimpse of a walking funeral procession coming down the road with a string of traffic behind. (bear in mind it's a fairly busy road)

Now personally I don't mind this (as I don't drive it's not something I come across very often), however there was man about 30 years old at the bus stop with me getting very irritated at how slow the procession was moving. I can imagine there were many people in cars behind it that felt the same as him too.

I'm interested in what peoples opinions are on walking funeral processions. Any funerals I have been to people usually drive behind the hearse and it progresses at a slow but non-disruptive rate.

Find more posts tagged with

Quick Links

Comments

April O Neill

Shenshen wrote: »

So you think it's reasonable to ignore the hypothetical scenarios and assume that everybody in the traffic behind was just going on a little drive with no specific destination in mind and no urgency in getting there either?

You would drive yourself mad trying to guess where everyone behind you is going. But it's safe to assume most of the journeys aren't going to be urgent, just people pootling along. I'm sure they have a specific destination, I just doubt most of them are that much of a rush. Most people who get annoyed are just impatient twonks. Funeral processions don't happen at 8am when most people are trying to get to work or at evening rush hour either. These are the critical times. There will always be urgent cases outside of these times, but far far less.

paulbok

iguana wrote: »

The more urban an area you live in, the more likely you are to seriously inconvenience someone. Even though your loved one's funeral is a massively important event deserving of respect, that doesn't mean that everyone else is in the middle of something less important and it doesn't matter if they are delayed.

The more urban an area is, the more chance there is another road you can take.

[Quote:]
Originally Posted by April O Neill View Post
No, they're all dead now apparently![/QUOTE]

One left I believe.
If they fe*{ it up again this year, I've heard he's going for a swim in the Shannon at Tarmonbarry on the way back

Jelly2

Shenshen wrote: »

So you think it's reasonable to ignore the hypothetical scenarios and assume that everybody in the traffic behind was just going on a little drive with no specific destination in mind and no urgency in getting there either?

Could we not have a little bit of compassion? These processions are part of the grieving process of a family and community, just as those who have taken part in them have already said on this thread. If they sometimes delay someone from getting somewhere on time, it is unfortunate but this is usually for the greater good of people in mourning. I'm sure if an ambulance needed to get through it could do so pretty quickly.
Also, what chance is there of having the Gardai monitor the procession in all parishes in the country? Zero! They are already stretched to do the work they are required to do, and many parishes don't see a garda from one month to the next any more.

Kinzig

lertsnim wrote: »

Where does oncoming traffic stop for a funeral procession? I live in the south and have never seen that.

up until the late eighties in Donegal it was the done thing in Inishowen, I have done it many times myself but its becoming a rarity now although it still happens just on not so large a scale..it was the done thing to pull over switch off the engine until the hearse and immediate family passed..then you would continue on your way..

MugMugs

lertsnim wrote: »

Where does oncoming traffic stop for a funeral procession? I live in the south and have never seen that.

I first witnessed it at my Uncles Funeral in Limerick City.

Again for my other Uncle, Aunt and then Grandmother.

I actually started doing it myself when I started driving. It's a degree of respect that I admire.

Jelly2

MugMugs wrote: »

I first witnessed it at my Uncles Funeral in Limerick City.

Again for my other Uncle, Aunt and then Grandmother.

I actually started doing it myself when I started driving. It's a degree of respect that I admire.

It happens in Wexford and Wicklow too.

Raytown Rocks

I have carried both my parents coffins.
very sad but very proud on both occasions.
One was over the bridge into the church and one was from the library to the church.
Both in Ringsend , Dublin.
Its definitely the done thing in our area and long should it continue.

witchgirl26

We walked my dad's hearse down to the church for the funeral. It was out onto a main road at rush hour but opposite to the heavy traffic (we were heading towards town). Out of respect, we let the Gardai know and they came out to help us through the two major junctions we had to pass. Moved quicker than cars too.

I think there should be a mutual level of respect in regards funeral processions. It can be a massively hard thing for the people involved and if doing something like that can help them, then really is it too much to be kept waiting a few minutes? Ok I understand the comments re the 2 hour delay but normally it doesn't take that long.

As for the blessing yourself - I was always told to do this as a sign of respect & as a prayer for the soul of the deceased. Have to say it did touch me when I saw others doing it for my fathers coffin and I will always do it for funerals I pass.

elfy4eva

I'd be curious as to what the procession should do if there's an emergency services vehicle that needs to pass it.

Valetta

elfy4eva wrote: »

I'd be curious as to what the procession should do if there's an emergency services vehicle that needs to pass it.

Pull in and let them pass?

Red Nissan

C.K Dexter Haven wrote: »

I like the way towns slow down for a funeral. I always stop the car if going through a rural town and and a funeral is passing. It's a sign of respect and it's a dying custom- one I'd like to see kept alive.

It's not so much a dying custom, but for the reasons you've stated it is no longer permitted in some areas. And the cortege must keep up a good road speed.

elfy4eva

Valetta wrote: »

Pull in and let them pass?

Very funny, but I don't see how a gridlock full of traffic following a procession and a road full of friends and family members and a hearse on top of that can just pull in and let it pass.

Valetta

elfy4eva wrote: »

Very funny, but I don't see how a gridlock full of traffic following a procession and a road full of friends and family members and a hearse on top of that can just pull in and let it pass.

I'm not sure what you mean?

They're just a lot of cars following a hearse.

Unless you're talking about a country boreen that's only wide enough for two cars, and there is traffic coming the other direction?

Emergency vehicles get through gridlocked traffic every day of the week.

runawaybishop

elfy4eva wrote: »

I'm interested in what peoples opinions are on walking funeral processions. Any funerals I have been to people usually drive behind the hearse and it progresses at a slow but non-disruptive rate.

They piss me off, especially when they are done at rush hour. The location of many funeral homes also result in traffic jams during a funeral as people abandon their cars wherever is convenient.

elfy4eva

Valetta wrote: »

I'm not sure what you mean?

They're just a lot of cars following a hearse.

Unless you're talking about a country boreen that's only wide enough for teo cars, and there is traffic coming the other direction?

Emergency vehicles get through gridlocked traffic every day of the week.

It's not a country boreen, it's a narrow two lane main road with busy oncoming traffic. The lane full of cars couldn't just pull in to the side and leave enough room for a Fire Engine or ambulance to maneuver through there's no way it could be done. Emergency vehicles very well may have to deal with gridlock situations every day but in this situation there would be no way through for them.

Red Nissan

MugMugs wrote: »

Amazing the cultures in different parts of the country! In the pale you drive by but in the south I always noticed that oncoming traffic stops until the hearse is past!

South? Where? I think you might have been right and I think I remember pulling over for oncoming funerals, but in my part of the world that's long gone.

We have so many funerals here between the funeral homes, the removal to the Church the actual burial in the cemetery and this traffic is often mixing it up with match traffic that it is just another congestion issue that we sometimes not only won't stop for an oncoming funeral but may even pass one out.

MugMugs

Red Nissan wrote: »

South? Where? I think you might have been right and I think I remember pulling over for oncoming funerals, but in my part of the world that's long gone.

We have so many funerals here between the funeral homes, the removal to the Church the actual burial in the cemetery and this traffic is often mixing it up with match traffic that it is just another congestion issue that we sometimes not only won't stop for an oncoming funeral but may even pass one out.

MugMugs wrote: »

I first witnessed it at my Uncles Funeral in Limerick City.

Again for my other Uncle, Aunt and then Grandmother.

Furthest south I ever dare venture

Zen65

Lapin wrote: »

What difference does the ultimate disposal of the deceased make?

I've been to a number of funerals using cremation where traffic has been just as disruptive as those involving burials.

Thanks for that, I had assumed the cremation was always family / private.

I shall update my last will & testament accordingly to ensure I'n burned privately!

Z

Valetta

elfy4eva wrote: »

It's not a country boreen, it's a narrow two lane main road with busy oncoming traffic. The lane full of cars couldn't just pull in to the side and leave enough room for a Fire Engine or ambulance to maneuver through there's no way it could be done. Emergency vehicles very well may have to deal with gridlock situations every day but in this situation there would be no way through for them.

A narrow two lane main road?
One that's literally wide enough for just two cars to pass?

How many cars do you envisage in the funeral cortège?

At what speed would the oncoming traffic be doing?

I'm finding it very difficult to imagine a situation where an emergency vehicle couldn't be accommodated with a little bit of Kop on.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

elfy4eva

Valetta wrote: »

A narrow two lane main road?
One that's literally wide enough for just two cars to pass?

How many cars do you envisage in the funeral cortège?

At what speed would the oncoming traffic be doing?

I'm finding it very difficult to imagine a situation where an emergency vehicle couldn't be accommodated with a little bit of Kop on.

God some people will pick at every detail how about taking my word for it!!

I'm not being OTT here I'm explaining what the situation would have been from what I saw. Firstly to enlighten you we're talking about a narrow main road with two lanes, one lane with traffic coming, the other with traffic going. Oncoming traffic coming against the procession is steady. I cant really hazard a guess at how fast, but fast enough.

Secondly we're not just talking about just a funeral Cortège we're talking about a string of gridlocked traffic at least a kilometer long following behind it. When I say gridlocked. I mean Bumper to bumper no maneuvering, I don't even see how everyone could essentially have the room to pull over (en masse) under such circumstances, and even if they could there wouldn't be enough room for a large ESV to pass safely. Nothing to do with having "kop on" it's just physical restriction.

Red Nissan

Valetta wrote: »

I'm finding it very difficult to imagine a situation where an emergency vehicle couldn't be accommodated with a little bit of Kop on.

Obviously depends on exact circumstances, but I have heard the fire service calling out other appliances to take a different route because of funerals.

stoneill

I think it is a fitting tribute at the end of someone’s life to have a cortege walking behind the hearse
to the cemetery.
There may be some inconvenience to traffic, but how long does that last, a few minutes - get over it.
The lack of respect from some people says a lot about them, I bet their cortege will not be as big.

The_Valeyard

stoneill wrote: »

I think it is a fitting tribute at the end of someone’s life to have a cortege walking behind the hearse
to the cemetery.
There may be some inconvenience to traffic, but how long does that last, a few minutes - get over it.
The lack of respect from some people says a lot about them, I bet their cortege will not be as big.

Very true,

your final walk to your resting place where you will never be causing traffic jams ever again, I think people could allow a few minutes out of their time for that.

December2012

It's not always a few minutes. It could be a half hour, or two hours as another poster suggested.

Maybe that guy was on his way to collect his child? Or go to work?

The_Valeyard

December2012 wrote: »

It's not always a few minutes. It could be a half hour, or two hours as another poster suggested.

Maybe that guy was on his way to collect his child? Or go to work?

Walked behind a funeral car various times (friends, family, etc), longest was 30minutes) but sure it even goes onto different roads, etc.

Never heard of a two hour one, seems odd or excessive.

Crea

When my grandfather died the funeral procession stopped outside the pub he owned - all the taxi drivers in the rank opposite the pub got out of their cars as a kind of guard of honor. I was so incredibly touched by this. 20 years on and thinking of it brings tears to my eyes.

Ultra Classic

In Cork, last week, a taxi pulled out at a roundabout between a hearse and the following limousine on their way from the church to the cemetery . The limousine had to brake very hard to avoid hitting the taxi. The taxi followed the hearse for about 50m before turning left and stopping 10m later to drop off the passenger. The taxi did, admittedly, have the right of way at the roundabout but a little common courtesy would not have gone astray. There were no people walking behind the hearse so a delay to the taxi could not have been a factor.

irishfeen

Anyone else's country parents turn off the lights at the front of the house when a hearse passes outside? .. :pac: love Irish little customs like that.

ocli64

A few people here talking about cars pulling in when processions are passing. What's your take on people walking? I have TWICE been in the situation, once out for a run, once out for a walk, where I was nearing the top of the street and next thing a walking procession comes around the corner.

Now my instinct was to stop and show respect but the procession was quite long and I was the only pedestrian so it was a bit awkward to stand until they all passed. Didn't want to turn and go back the way I came either. Can't remember what I did but I think I kinda hovered for a minute and then continued on. Either way felt like a terrible person but is there an actual right thing to do in that situation?