As Fitz-Gerald’s Funeral Directors, Macroom, Co. Cork, mark the significant milestone of 200 years of service
this year, we are forever mindful that this would not be possible without the trust and support of the local people of
Macroom, Lee Valley, Mid-Cork and beyond.
As Fitz-Gerald’s Funeral Directors, Macroom, Co. Cork, mark the significant milestone of 200 years of service
this year, we are forever mindful that this would not be possible without the trust and support of the local people of
Macroom, Lee Valley, Mid-Cork and beyond. We would like to thank you the local community for putting
your trust in us. It is our privilege to serve the local community now and into the future.
The Fitz-Gerald family has been involved in some form in the profession of funeral directing or undertaking, in
mid-cork, since 1824, when the family moved to Macroom from the Kilmurry/Lissarda area. Over 200 years of
service, eight generations of the Fitz-Gerald family have been involved in this profession. In more recent times it is
a profession passed down to Martin, who in turn has had the honour of passing this profession onto his son Bill.
Through the generations, Fitz-Gerald’s have seen the meaning of what undertakers do change - from something
done for the deceased, to something done for the living, by the living.
We have always looked to evolve and develop our service in tandem with the needs of the community. Examples
of this evolution from our own story, include one of Ireland’s first female funeral directors, Martin Fitz-Gerald’s
Grandmother, Mary Holland, from Greenville, Kilmichael wife of John Martin Fitz-Gerald, who then passed the
profession onto their son Dan Martin Fitz-Gerald and his wife Lilly (nee O’Dwyer, Peake, Coachford). Martin and
his late wife Margaret (nee Lynch, South Square, Macroom) oversaw the construction of the first funeral home on
a green field site in Ireland in 1968. Bill Fitz-Gerald has continued to observe the huge sense of family tradition yet
evolving the service provision to meet the community’s expectations in the 21st century. In 2020, Bill’s wife Mary
(neé Barrett), originally from Donoughmore joined our team of funeral directors.
Throughout our history, Fitz-Gerald's Funeral Directors has been deeply intertwined with the fabric of Macroom
and the wider Lee Valley & Mid Cork area, with our involvement in community events and support for local
causes. Fitz-Gerald’s have continually evolved its practices, embraced modern techniques while staying true to our
traditional values.
Not only have Fitz-Gerald's had the support of the local community over the past 200 years, but we have also had a
great team working with us, such as Con “Knocky” Cronin, who although deceased is still fondly remembered,
while many in our community today will know Barry Kelleher. As we look to the future, we reflect on our past,
ever mindful that Fitz-Gerald’s are a family caring for the needs of other families with dignity and respect since
1824.
