New study investigates how Covid-19 and technology reshape mourning in Ireland
A digital humanities researcher at Trinity College Dublin has launched a timely study into how mourning practices in Ireland have evolved in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and the rapid rise of digital technologies. The project, titled Mourning and Technology in Ireland, seeks to map how families, communities, and institutions adapt traditional rites to online spaces, social media, and new memorial formats.
What the study aims to uncover
The research aims to document shifts in bereavement rituals, funeral customs, and memorial practices from 2020 onward. It looks at questions such as: How did lockdowns alter funeral attendance and the use of streaming services? In what ways did people mourn remotely or through digital substitutes? What new forms of remembrance have emerged—online memorials, virtual vigils, and augmented reality tributes—and how are they received by different age groups and cultural communities in Ireland?
By combining digital humanities methods with ethnographic observation, the study will produce a nuanced picture of mourning that includes geographic variation, urban-rural differences, and the impact of religion, ethnicity, and class. The researchers emphasize that the goal is not to judge rituals but to understand how technology is reshaping the language of grief and the social functions of remembrance.
Why Ireland is an important case
Ireland offers a fertile setting for examining mourning in a digitally connected society with a strong sense of communal ritual. The Covid-19 crisis hit Ireland particularly hard, prompting rapid changes in how people say goodbye. The study considers how Irish families integrate traditional Catholic and secular practices with modern platforms—such as livestreamed funerals, online condolence pages, and digital guestbooks—and how these practices spread or diverge across generations.
Methods and collaboration
Researchers will combine archival work with contemporary fieldwork, including interviews, participant observation in virtual memorial spaces, and analysis of social media discourse around mourning. The project also invites collaboration with communities and cultural organizations to ensure a diverse range of perspectives, including those of bereaved families, funeral directors, clergy, and technologists.
In addition to academic outputs, the team plans to publish public-facing resources that help people understand evolving mourning cultures and navigate digital memorials respectfully and safely. Ethical considerations—especially around privacy, consent, and the handling of grief-related data—are central to the study’s design.
Potential implications for policy and practice
What happens in Ireland when grief moves online may have broader implications for social policy and cultural heritage management. The study could inform guidelines for digital memorial platforms, help memorialization practitioners tailor support services for families who mourn through technology, and contribute to public conversations about how societies commemorate collective loss in a digital age.
Engaging the public and how to participate
The research team is inviting participation from individuals who have experienced bereavement during or after the Covid-19 period and from communities that have organized online memorials. Engagement may include surveys, interviews, and participation in public talks or online forums. Those interested can contact the Trinity College Dublin project team via the university’s dedicated Mourning and Technology in Ireland page.
Looking ahead
As digital life continues to intersect with everyday grief, the Mourning and Technology in Ireland study aims to create accessible insights into modern mourning that resonate with people across Ireland. By documenting evolving rituals with care and inclusivity, the project hopes to support communities navigating bereavement in a changing world and to help preserve the nuanced memories that give meaning to loss.
