Kevin Toolis: What the Irish wake teaches us about living and dying

What the Irish wake teaches us about living and dying

For centuries, the Irish funeral wake has served as a time for people to grieve a life lost and celebrate a life lived, together. In this profound and lyrical talk, poet Kevin Toolis laments the fear and denial of death that characterizes increasingly individualistic societies. He reasons that living life fully means embracing our shared mortality -- and offers simple ways to reconnect with your community, the people you love and even yourself.

Modern societies often hide death, turning it into a medical event rather than a communal rite. In contrast, Irish wakes place the dead at the center, allowing families and communities to openly grieve, touch, and honor those they have lost. One story recalls a child meeting his first corpse at age seven, learning from his mother and community to face mortality without fear. Embracing shared rituals and sorrow, people relearn the value of connection and discover how confronting death deepens the meaning of life.