Irish Association of Funeral Directors appoints new President

The Irish Association of Funeral Directors (IAFD) has appointed Tom Lawless of Lawless Funeral Directors Tullamore as its President for 2023.

The third generation of Funeral Directors at Lawless Funeral Directors, Tom joined the business in 1998 having had a varied career in hospitality, as a security guard and the owner of a taxi business.

Tom was involved with JCI Ireland, a young voluntary organisation of which he was Local President, Regional Director and Convention Director, for ten years. He attributes these positions to assisting in building his confidence to take over the family business when his dad Tom was ill.

Speaking of his appointment as IAFD President, Tom said: “It is a privilege for me to be appointed President of The Irish Association of Funeral Directors. I am excited to be taking on the role at a time when I firmly believe that being a member of a professional membership organisation is more important than ever. I will strive to continue to grow membership of the IAFD during my term by encouraging Funeral Directors to understand the benefits of such membership and I will continue to ensure that the families that IAFD members represent are treated with the utmost care and respect.”

Tom, whose father Tom was a member of the IAFD from the association’s beginning, has been a member of IAFD for 20 years since he took over the running of the family business which started in 1909.