Serving Waterford families with compassion, creativity, and deep community care.
At Falconers, we believe that art can hold what words sometimes can’t. That it can offer stillness in the swirl of emotion, and light in a moment of loss. This belief is at the heart of our Community Art Exhibition, and it has never felt more meaningful than it does with the addition of two exquisite works by Lillian O’Sullivan, whose art now graces the walls of our Tramore funeral parlour.
Lillian’s seascapes do more than reflect the ocean and sky. They invite you to breathe, to pause, to reflect. And for our team, they now carry a deeply personal meaning. Just weeks ago, we had the honour of caring for her beloved husband, Michael O’Sullivan, whose funeral we were privileged to direct. Michael was deeply loved, and the outpouring of condolences from across Ireland was a testament to the man he was and the life he lived. The warmth and respect shown by the community during this time touched all of us.
These paintings now feel like more than art. They are a tribute, to Michael, to Lillian, and to the enduring love between them.
“There’s something about Lillian’s paintings that stays with you. They haven’t just brought colour to our parlour, they’ve brought peace, presence, and the quiet kind of beauty that helps you breathe a little deeper. Knowing they were painted by Lillian, and knowing the love she shared with Michael, makes them so much more than art. We were honoured to care for Michael, and every time I pass these paintings, I feel we’re still carrying part of their story. It’s a reminder to all of us that even in loss, love endures, and beauty can live on.” Erich Falconer.
The Art of Light, Loss and the Living Sea
Lillian is a self-taught oil painter living and working in Tramore. Her work is inspired by the changing light across the sea, how it moves, reflects, and disappears into the sky. Her focus is not just on the landscape, but on the feeling of it.
Through this, she captures what words often cannot.
She paints the tide, the stillness, the soft horizon. Each canvas is a moment of presence. Her works are both simple and profound, echoing the emotional shifts we feel when navigating life, loss, and memory.
Currently displayed at Falconers are two breathtaking pieces. One shows The Metal Man headland under a silver sky, waves gently breaking. The other is Brownstown Head, which captures the soft light just before dawn, with clouds layered over the horizon. These aren’t just paintings, they are invitations to pause, to breathe, to remember.
Why These Paintings Will Always Remain Close to Our Hearts
At Falconers, we understand how objects can carry memory. Lillian’s paintings do that with tenderness and grace. They now sit on our walls as a reminder, not just of the sea, or the sky, but of Michael, of Lillian, and of a story held in love.
These pieces will remain in our parlour till someone buys them from Lillian. Every time we walk past them, we are reminded of what it means to care for people, not just in their time of loss, but in every way we can.
A Community Exhibition with Deep Meaning
Our art exhibition continues to grow because artists like Lillian remind us why it matters. Her art is not just a special memory to us, it’s a gift to everyone who visits our parlour. A moment of light. A connection between loss and beauty. A message to every family that love doesn’t end, it changes.
We are proud to honour both her work and her story. We thank her for trusting us, and for helping us make Falconers a space not only for goodbye, but for reflection, peace, and quiet remembrance.
To read Michael’s full death notice and the many tributes shared by his family and friends, you can visit:
Michael O’Sullivan Death Notice
At Falconers, the themes of life, love, loss, and remembrance guide everything we do. Through this exhibition, we want to continue offering a quiet space for these emotions to be felt, expressed, and honoured. That’s why we’re proud to offer our walls freely to local artists, a place where their work can be displayed, shared, and sold, surrounded by meaning and care.
To every artist who has stepped forward with heart and courage, and to every family who has walked through our doors in trust, we say thank you. Your stories, your support, and your faith in what we’re building here mean more than words can express.
A few years ago, we set out to create one of the finest funeral parlours in Ireland, and more importantly, to build a team that leads with humanity, compassion, and vision. Every time our community reflects that mission back to us, we’re reminded why we do this.
We also want to acknowledge and thank our fellow funeral directors across Ireland, many of whom are finding new, beautiful ways to support the people they serve. Our industry is changing, and that change is something to be proud of.
Here at Falconers, families will always come first. Whether through care, creativity, or quiet kindness, we will continue to make space for what matters most.
If Lillian’s work has moved you as much as it’s moved us, we invite you to follow her journey and explore more of her stunning paintings on Instagram at @artbylillianosullivan.
Her pieces are available to purchase, and owning one is not just supporting a local artist, it’s bringing a piece of calm, light, and memory into your own home.
Every brushstroke by Lillian carries meaning, and your support means the world.
At Falconers, we don’t just hold space for loss.
We hold space for light, for story, and for the beauty that continues.
Because remembrance is not just about the past, it’s how we carry it forward.
