Leixlip Sisters Set Up Sibling Bereavement Organisation Following Deaths Of Their Three Siblings

Thursday, 13 April 2023 10:28

By Caoimhe Harney

The organisation aims to bring an awareness of grief to siblings that sometimes feel forgotten

Jacinta’s Smile is a sibling bereavement organisation founded by siblings after they lost their two brothers and their sister.

It was set up in 2016 by three Leixlip sisters, following the loss of their siblings.

The siblings say: "We know what it is like to lose a sibling. We have lost three. First Declan, then Jacinta and then Fintan.

"We have our great inspiration of all things heartfelt and real—our dad Frank. We have our great holder of life and relentless love—our mother Helen.

"We have our greatest supporter—our brother Sheridan and we have our reasons to carry on with living life as normal as possible—our nephew Ethan.

"We set up this organisation because we are simply a family that has been through death. Slowly through each day we learn to survive for each other. And we will continue to move through it," they said.

Aishleen, is a surveyor. She is the sister that keeps us on our toes in terms of business and thinking bigger and beyond.
Katie-Anne, is a Social Care Worker and currently studying Holistic Psychotherapy. She is our wordsmith and has an ability to allow you to feel understood and heard in your heartache.
Charlotte, is studying Psychology. She is our creator of the smaller stuff, the imagination, the added thoughts and ideas that bring everything together. She is our child whisperer.
Sheridan, is our biggest supporter, he likes to stand back and cheer us on from the sideline but he will always be there on our adventure days to have fun and help us set up.

The organisation aims to bring an awareness of grief to siblings that often feel forgotten, for both children and young adults.

"All three of us may answer the phone on any given day and all three of us hold each other up when the other may be feeling buried in sadness of how difficult our losses can be.

"We all feel it at different times and are there to pick up the little pieces that death has left in us.

"We want to acknowledge sibling loss and all the struggles that come with this," they added.

Co -founder Katie - Anne joined Eoin Beatty on Thursday's Kildare Today, listen back to the full interview here:

This organisation is fully registered under Charity Number CHY19275. In association with Vita House, Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Tel: 090 6625898

Mobile: 087 422 0000

Email: info@jacintassmile.ie

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