A Dublin-based live funeral streaming company says it has been inundated with requests to cover funerals for families who cannot attend due to coronavirus restrictions.

Memorial Lane has been providing television quality and live footage of funerals and other events for the past five years.

Since the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Ballymount-based firm has seen increased requests from people that have suddenly had to contend with not being able to attend their loved one's funeral.

Managing director Mick Neville is a former director of operations at TV3 Television.

He said: "It's for those who can’t make it to the funeral and they want more than a bad quality webcam feed.

"The difference is the live element; people do feel closer to the ceremony when it’s live, when they are watching it happening as its happening, and they feel more a part of the service."

"Because we have equipment we also use for working on television projects, we are able to provide a professional broadcast quality stream of the funeral.

"Some people want us to cover burial and cremation as well".

Before the arrival of the virus, the father of three says he was "getting a couple of calls a month”, for the service.

However he says he is now taking "a couple of enquiries a day from undertakers".

"Obviously, since the restrictions came in, it has become more of a need for people.

"We have done a number of funerals where there have been no attendees whatsoever, just a priest and the coffin in a crematorium."

Mick Neville, managing director of Memorial Lane professional live streaming service. Picture by David Raleigh

Mourners who cannot attend their loved one’s funeral canaccess the service via Memorial Lane’s website and are given a password to view the live satellite feed.

Close family members can also leave the link open to the public or invite only close neighbours and friends to watch.

Prior to the funeral, family members are also given the option of pre-recording their own personal tributes and mass readings - which are introduced during the funeral service by the officiating priest and played via a screen in the church.

Relatives of the deceased are also provided with a recording of the funeral.

Mr Neville agreed the recordings are "a historical artifact", which serve to both sensitively celebrate the deceased’s life and mark their passing.

The company recently provided a live streaming of the funeral of former deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin John Gallagher.

"The family were in self isolation, and they couldn't come. They were all sitting at home watching the live stream," Mr Neville explained.

"To enable them to participate in the service they recorded a (tribute) and a reading, and poems, which they gave to us the day before the funeral."

"The priest, addressing the camera only, welcomed everybody who was watching, and introduced the deceased's loved ones as they did their (pre-recorded) readings and tributes on the screen."

"There was about 500 mourners watching, who would have been at the church in normal circumstances."

Those who watch from the comfort of their own homes are given a front pew view.

"The camera is essentially the eyes and ears of the loved one who can’t be there, and who wants to see the faces of their family and friends as much as they want to see the funeral” Mr Neville added.

Reporting by David Raleigh

Main image: Mick Neville, managing director of Memorial Lane professional live streaming service. Picture by David Raleigh