Funeral Directors Win Supreme Irish National Quality Award 2001 from Excellence Ireland.

"The issue of quality of service is never more important than in the case of a bereavement when a family hands over the personal care of a loved one to another party. It is a traumatic time for everyone involved and the funeral director must demonstrate total quality care not only to those in mourning, but also to the deceased. Fanagans were the first Funeral Directors in Dublin to be awarded the Q mark in recognition of the quality service we give to our clients and this Award tonight is deserved recognition of the emphasis placed on service quality by everyone in Fanagans," said Mr. Alan Fanagan, managing director of Fanagans Funeral Directors, today (Friday 9 November 2001).

Mr. Fanagan was speaking following the Excellence Ireland Annual Awards Dinner in Dublin, where Fanagans were awarded the Excellence Ireland Supreme National Quality Award 2001. Other nominees from categories such as manufacturing and services included Bupa Healthcare, the Educational Company of Ireland, Dairygold and Foxford Bakeries.

Each year companies who hold the Q mark are rigorously audited on a number of criteria as a means of continuously monitoring quality improvement within Q mark companies. Those companies with outstanding quality management systems are nominated for a prestigious Excellence Ireland Quality Award and from these nominees, an overall Supreme Winner is chosen.

Established in 1819, Fanagans Funeral Directors is one of Dublin's oldest companies, and currently there are four members of the family involved in the management of the company - Alan, David, Joe and his son Jody. The tradition of personal service has been handed down through the generations and is complemented by Fanagans Customer Care Charter and their acknowledged gentle efficiency in assisting client families at the time of their bereavement.

Fanagans is one of the most progressive companies in its field, introducing the first pre-payment plan in conjunction with Bank of Ireland and with Revenue Commission approval for those wishing to pay for and plan their own funeral. The company has also recently launched its own website, www.fanagans.ie. The company has taken a leading role in the development of common practices and guidelines within its industry and is a founding member of the Irish Association of Funeral Directors.

"This Supreme award is recognition of the level of quality improvement we have achieved; it particularly recognises the effort made by every member of our staff to encompass the concept of quality and to improve the level of service to our client families. We are privileged to receive this Award which will act as an added inspiration in our ongoing endeavours to maintain our service excellence," said Alan Fanagan.