Business ideas come in all shapes and sizes and sometimes, they come at unusual times. This was the experience of Wicklow-born Geraldine Kirwan.
Geraldine, a mother of four who lives in Longford town, was on her way to visit and tidy her father's grave in Kilmacanogue in 1998 when her business idea came to mind. She realised that there was an opening in the market for someone to look after the graves of those who do not have the time, energy or know-how.
With growing children and the prospect of time on her hands, Geraldine, who moved with her Dublin-born husband to Longford seven years ago, decided to go into business for herself.
And so her company, Grave Matters, was born as an idea which eventually got off the ground in July of last year when she offered her service to the public.
But that was not before she completed a course which had been arranged by the local guild of the Irish Countrywomen's Association to help women starting businesses.
"It was a wonderful course and a number of women who did it with me are already out on their own, doing their own thing." She says the enterprise programme showed her how to research the demand for the service and how to handle sales, taxation and every other difficulty that might face her.
Armed with this knowledge, she applied for, and received, capital and marketing support from the Longford Community Resources Ltd, which assists small industries.
Geraldine, who had worked before her marriage in sales and accounts, is fast becoming familiar with graveyards all over the midlands and further afield.
She has worked in most graveyards in Co Longford and looks after plots in Leitrim and Cavan as well as the adjoining counties in the midlands.
"There was a very clear demand for what I was offering. I design, enhance and maintain graves for families, and the business has taken off," she says.
Four months into the venture, Geraldine is considering expanding her operation by hiring another person to help her.
"Most of the people who hire me are women. Some do not have the energy to do what they want to do, and that is simply to keep the family grave looking well," she says.
She says some of her work comes from people who do not have the time because of business commitments, reflecting the quickening pace of life.
Others, she says, did not have the horticultural skills to keep a grave tidy or the ability to restore lettering on headstones or replacing stones on graves.
A lot of her work, however, is just tidying up around the plots by weeding and replacing shrubs or grass. A skilled gardener, Geraldine normally presents clients with a design for the family plot. Her charges are based on the amount of work to be done.
Since setting up the business, Geraldine has noticed differing attitudes towards grave maintenance in the midlands between different denominations.
Presbyterians, she says, favour very simple graves with grass cover. This was also the attitude of most of her Church of Ireland clients.
"Roman Catholics seem to go for more ornate designs, with plants and chippings on the grave. The whole idea of cemetery Sundays, when families visit the graveyard, is still very strong here," he said.
Grave Matters can be contacted at 087-6782920.