I live in a place where a local caterer has set up a kitchen in the community centre. The family would have it called out from the alter that there are refreshments in the hall the night of the removal or dinner the day afterwards post burial. The amount of old bachelors who turn up for these is amazing. Youâd like to think that itâs out of loneliness and not out of absolute meanness.
Another is local alcos turning up at a grave dig for the free whiskey that would be passed around. Sponging cunts
Down at home, dinners after funerals arenât usually open to everyone. A member of the family would go around to a few people after the burial and ask/demand that they come along. Usually close neighbours/friends/relations and in particular people who travelled far to get there.
Iâve been that member of the family on a few occasions. Sometimes hangers on will come along and you would think that they could easily excuse themselves from not attending but thatâs just the way it is.
Yep. Iâve been to ones where itâs a three course meal in a hotel and itâs very much invite only, but youâll always get a few in the door who certainly werenât asked. The ones back at pubs/ function rooms are open to all.
I was at a funeral a while back, wake from the house job, this fella was there ating sandwiches and drinking whiskey to bate the band. Barely known to the deceased or any member of the family, a neighbor had to shame him into leaving for a finish âjaysus you must be on your third plate of sandwiches and second bottle of whiskey at this stageâ he headed away shortly afterwards. Renowned for it in the locality apparently
I was at my uncles funeral in Clonmel I suppose 5 years ago. Anyway went to the grave for the burial and then went back to the hotel for the lunch. Every skiver in the town was there tucking in and there was no room for family members to sit.
I had a bunch of family wakes over the last seven years. I donât think we had any shorts, maybe a few cans if needed. I donât think they were touched much. Drink driving ainât like it used to be.
Same happened us. We had the dinners ordered but a good few boyos arrived on. Knew where to sit to be first served, and there was nothing left for my three aunts from England by the time the food was all gone. They left to get a chinese after, said it was ok, but I knew they were raging. My father was the last of that era to go so we havenât seen them since. You couldnât be up to them as they say.
Depends on the house I suppose. Some people would be insulted if you went out the door without a whiskey to toast the deceased. Although itâs more and more from funeral homes these days which avoids that issue