“The fear of death follows from the fear of life.”

Mark Twain said that, and if you can kind of see where he was coming from, an unusual new evening class might be just what you’re seeking to broaden your mind this winter.

Following the death of a friend and wanting to face the reality of her eventual demise, Siofra Coughlan embarked on a path fuelled by both fear and curiosity. Nobody she knew wanted to discuss death so she went looking for those that would and found them.

Now Siofra is leading Telling the Bees, a ‘thought-provoking, enlightening and practical’ eight-week course on the subject, at Ashton School in Ballintemple, starting on January 30th, 2024.

In Celtic mythology ‘telling the bees’ was a custom where the bees in their hives, regarded as beings of great wisdom and importance, would be quietly told of the important events of people in the household or community.

Back in 2022, following the centuries-old tradition, the royal beekeeper, John Chapple, knocked gently on the beehives of Buckingham Palace and Clarence House and told the bees of the Queen’s death.

“This class offers a safe, compassionate, and confidential space to encourage open conversations about end-of-life topics to empower you to greater awareness, understanding, and acceptance,” Siofra told us.

“Engaging creative tasks offer an opportunity to reflect and develop your literacy in the topics of death and grief. Yes, this class is about death, dying, and grieving but it is also a class about life, living, and joy,” she added.

Telling the Bees is an eight-week evening course running from 7pm to 9pm on Tuesdays starting January 30th. To book your place (€95) sign up here or call 021 432 2382.