Celebrating 40 Years of Service: Brendan Murphy, Funeral Arranger at Fanagans Funeral Directors

Brendan Murphy has been a valued part of Fanagans Funeral Directors - which operates across 13 locations in Dublin - for more than four decades.

Originally from Clontarf, Dublin, Brendan spent over three decades in the Aungier Street branch, where he worked alongside respected colleagues - Gerry Brennan, Pearse Mullarkey, and David Lowther, with Pearse and David still serving in the business today. In 2016, Brendan brought his wealth of experience to Kirwans Funeral Directors (part of the Fanagan Group) in Fairview, where he continues to support families with calm compassion, and kindness.

Three personal mottos

Brendan is guided by three personal mottos: Love, Care, and Respect. “Love,” he explains, refers to his deep enjoyment of connecting with people. “Care” represents his commitment to supporting families at one of the most vulnerable times in their lives. And “Respect” is about honouring every family’s unique needs and ensuring the wishes of their loved one are fulfilled with dignity.

Among the many poignant moments in his career, Brendan recalls being involved in the Air India Disaster in June 1985, just two months after joining Fanagans. “It was my first major experience,” he says. “I was involved in the paperwork when Fanagans were entrusted to care for 129 of the victims.” It was a deeply formative experience that shaped his understanding of the funeral profession.

Changes over four decades

Brendan has witnessed tremendous changes in the sector over four decades, from the shift to computerised systems to the introduction of live streaming services and more personalised funerals that truly celebrate a person’s life. “More families are opting for one-day funerals now,” he notes, “with a gathering in the funeral home the night before, rather than in the church.”

His connection with the funeral world, however, began even before his time at Fanagans. Brendan worked from 1969 to 1985 in the office and grounds in Glasnnevin Cemetery and lived for a short time in the Gardeners Lodge and was asked to patrol the grounds with his two Alsatian dogs while the Crematorium was being built. He also worked in their Monument works, selling headstones, and notably, became the first person to be married to Breda Lynam in 1982 in Glasnevin Cemetery Chapel which had been renovated for Cremation Services.

This personal milestone reflects Brendan’s deep-rooted association with meaningful, respectful spaces for life’s most important moments. That same reverence for meaningful spaces lives on today in Fanagans’ new state-of-the-art chapel in Fairview, where Brendan works. Offering a full funeral service under one roof from gatherings to full-service funerals - the chapel represents a modern continuation of the values Brendan has upheld throughout his career.

As he celebrates 40 years with the Fanagan Group, Brendan’s legacy is not just in the funerals he has arranged, but in the quiet professionalism, empathy, care, and respect he has shown to every family he’s met along the way.

Pictured L to R: Bryan Murphy (CEO), Brendan Murphy (Funeral Arranger)