Few things feel as urgent as needing to check if someone has passed away, especially when you’re searching across county lines or even countries. With RIP.ie covering all 32 counties of Ireland since 1998, there’s a free way to see recent death notices and offer condolences. This guide walks through the main Irish platforms, how to search effectively, and what to say when you do.

4 related posts

RIP.ie established: 1998 ·
Massey Bros Funeral Homes established: 1882 ·
RIP.ie county coverage: All 32 counties of Ireland

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact number of death notices published daily on each site (RIP.ie FAQ)
  • How many condolences are left per notice (RIP.ie FAQ)
3Timeline signal
  • RIP.ie launched in 1998 (RIP.ie FAQ)
  • Archive goes back to July 2006 (Condolences.ie)
4What’s next
  • Online condolence books and month’s mind notices are becoming standard (RIP.ie FAQ)
  • More funeral homes offer self-publish options (Massey Bros Funeral Homes)

Three key facts define the landscape of Irish funeral notices: the dominant platform, the oldest funeral home in the mix, and the geographic reach.

Label Value
RIP.ie established 1998
Massey Bros established 1882
RIP.ie county coverage All 32 counties
RIP.ie fee (Ireland funeral directors) €100 excluding VAT
RIP.ie fee (overseas funerals) €100 including VAT
FuneralTimes condolence charge £14
Irish News notice deadline (funeral arrangements) 6pm day before
Irish News notice deadline (memoriam) 3pm day before

The implication: RIP.ie dominates through broad free access, while regional outlets serve specific needs.

How to find a death notice in Ireland?

Using RIP.ie

RIP.ie is the most popular death notice website in Ireland, used by all funeral directors for funerals they are undertaking (RIP.ie FAQ). To find a notice:

  • Go to rip.ie.
  • Click the “Death Notices” tab to see the latest notices — including today, yesterday, and ongoing funerals (RIP.ie FAQ).
  • Use the search box to search by name, county, or town. The archive goes back to July 2006 (Condolences.ie).

Searching on FuneralTimes.com

FuneralTimes.com covers Northern Ireland and the Republic. Search by name and county to find recent notices. Members of the public can leave a condolence or sympathy message by clicking the “Leave a Condolence” button (FuneralTimes Help). There is a one-off charge of £14 for leaving a condolence notice (FuneralTimes Help).

Local funeral home websites

Many funeral homes, such as Massey Bros Funeral Homes (established 1882), publish their own funeral notices and allow condolence messages. These sites often have a search function and list notices for their clients.

Local funeral home notices can be particularly helpful for recent deaths in a specific area.

Bottom line: RIP.ie is the most comprehensive free source for Irish death notices, covering all 32 counties. For Northern Ireland, supplement with FuneralTimes.com. Local funeral home sites add depth for specific communities. The practical takeaway: start with RIP.ie for broad coverage, then refine by region.

How can I find out if someone I know has passed away?

Checking RIP.ie

Use the search function on RIP.ie with the person’s surname and county. If you don’t know the exact spelling, try common variations. The site’s archive goes back to July 2006, so older notices are available (Condolences.ie).

Searching by name and county

Condolences.ie also offers search by surname, county or town, and date range (Condolences.ie). This site aggregates RIP.ie data and provides additional filtering.

Contacting the family or funeral home

If no notice appears online, the family may not have published one yet. Contact the local funeral director or a family member directly. Funeral directors have secure access to RIP.ie to publish notices (RIP.ie FAQ).

The trade-off

RIP.ie is the first place to check, but for a person who died outside Ireland or in Northern Ireland, you may need to use FuneralTimes.com or search the local newspaper notice pages.

What do Irish people say for condolences?

Common Irish condolences phrases

  • “Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam” – May his soul be on the right hand of God (used for a man). For a woman: “Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.”
  • “Sincere condolences” – widely used and appropriate in English.
  • “May they rest in peace” – common in both Irish and English contexts.

Writing a message of sympathy

When leaving a condolence on RIP.ie, it is appropriate to mention the deceased’s name and share a memory or kind thought. Condolence books appear on notices only when the funeral director has enabled that option (RIP.ie FAQ).

Cultural considerations

Irish funeral traditions include the month’s mind (a memorial Mass one month after death) and anniversary notices. These are also published on RIP.ie and in local newspapers (RIP.ie FAQ; The Irish News).

Why this matters

Using the right phrase shows respect for the family’s culture. Even a simple “Sincere condolences” in English will be warmly received.

How do I look up the death of someone online for free?

Free death notice websites

RIP.ie is completely free to search and browse. No registration required. FuneralTimes.com is also free to search. Other free resources include Irish Times Notices (free to view) and Massey Bros Funeral Homes (free to view).

Using RIP.ie for free

Navigate to rip.ie, click “Death Notices,” and scroll. No paywall. You can also search by name and county for free.

Other free resources

The Irish News notices portal offers free viewing of family notices. Some local newspapers also publish death notices online for free.

Bottom line: All major Irish death notice platforms are free for the public to search and view. Only leaving a condolence on FuneralTimes.com incurs a £14 fee. The pattern: free access is the norm across Irish platforms, with paid features reserved for condolences on one site.

Can I check if someone is deceased?

Legal and ethical considerations

Death notices are public information in Ireland. Using RIP.ie or other notice sites is a respectful way to confirm a death. However, if you need an official record, you must obtain a death certificate from the General Register Office.

Using death notice databases

RIP.ie is a reliable source for recent and historical death notices. The site’s archive, maintained since July 2006, is searchable (Condolences.ie). FuneralTimes.com also maintains a searchable database.

Contacting official sources

Official death certificates are available from the General Register Office (GRO) in Ireland and Northern Ireland. This is the only legally binding confirmation but may require a fee and processing time.

The catch

Online death notices are not official legal records — they are published by funeral directors and may not include every death. For legal purposes, a death certificate from the GRO is required.

How to Search for a Death Notice Step by Step

  1. Go to RIP.ie (rip.ie) and click the “Death Notices” tab (RIP.ie FAQ).
  2. Search by surname and county using the search box at the top of the page. If unsure of the county, leave it blank to see national results.
  3. Browse the recent notices list — notices are grouped by today, yesterday, and older dates. Funerals with arrangements yet to be confirmed are also shown.
  4. Click on a notice to view the full death notice and, if enabled, leave a condolence message (RIP.ie FAQ).
  5. If you don’t find the person, try FuneralTimes.com or Condolences.ie for alternative coverage, especially for Northern Ireland.

The pattern: a methodical search across multiple platforms yields the best results.

Timeline of Key Milestones

  • 1882 – Massey Bros Funeral Homes established in Dublin (Massey Bros Funeral Homes).
  • 1998 – RIP.ie launched, becoming the most popular death notice website in Ireland.
  • July 2006 – RIP.ie archive starts, making all notices from that date publicly searchable (Condolences.ie).
  • Present – RIP.ie covers all 32 counties; multiple platforms (FuneralTimes.com, local funeral home sites) offer free death notice searches.

Clarity: What’s Confirmed vs. What’s Unclear

Confirmed facts

  • RIP.ie is a reliable source for Irish death notices (RIP.ie FAQ).
  • Free access to death notices is available on multiple sites (RIP.ie, FuneralTimes).

What’s unclear

  • Exact number of death notices published daily on each site.
  • How many notices are for non-Irish residents.
  • Whether all funeral homes in Northern Ireland use RIP.ie.

Expert Perspectives

Death notices are published by funeral directors who have secure access to the site. The service is offered by all funeral directors in Ireland for funerals they are undertaking.

RIP.ie FAQ (official platform documentation)

Condolence messages are displayed with the death notice and remain viewable as long as the notice stays on the site.

FuneralTimes Help (platform guidance)

Family notices can be placed by phone during specified opening hours, and by email. Deadlines are 6pm the day before for funeral arrangements.

The Irish News (newspaper notice portal)

The implication: each platform has distinct rules for publication, access, and condolence management, which users must navigate.

Related reading: Olivia Newton-John: Cause of Death, Funeral, and Legacy

Additional sources

secure.irishnews.com, condolence.ie, condolence.ie, condolence.ie, ripnotices.ie, notices.irishtimes.com

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Frequently asked questions

How do I find death notices from the last 7 days?

Go to RIP.ie and click the “Death Notices” tab. The most recent notices are displayed at the top, including today and yesterday. You can also use the date filter on Condolences.ie to see notices from the past week.

Can I search for death notices by county?

Yes. On RIP.ie, use the search box and enter the county name. Condolences.ie also allows county and town filtering.

Is RIP.ie free to use?

Yes, searching and viewing death notices on RIP.ie is completely free. Leaving a condolence is also free if the funeral director has enabled that option.

What is the difference between a death notice and an obituary?

A death notice is a paid announcement published by the family or funeral director, typically including the name, date of death, and funeral details. An obituary is a longer biographical article often written by the family or a journalist. In Ireland, most online notices are death notices.

How long do death notices stay on RIP.ie?

Notices remain on the site permanently; RIP.ie’s archive goes back to July 2006 (Condolences.ie).

Can I leave a message of condolence on a death notice?

Yes, if the funeral director has enabled the condolence book button (RIP.ie FAQ). On FuneralTimes.com, you can leave a message for a fee of £14 (FuneralTimes Help).

How do I find funeral times in Northern Ireland?

Use FuneralTimes.com, which covers Northern Ireland. You can search by name and county to find funeral service times and locations.

Are there any other reliable death notice websites in Ireland?

Yes. Besides RIP.ie and FuneralTimes.com, consider funeral home sites like Massey Bros Funeral Homes (masseybrosfuneralhomes.com), and local newspaper portals such as Irish Times Notices and The Irish News.