The Irish Funeral Sandwich That Rivals Classic Egg Salad In Filling And Flavor

Egg salad sandwiches are hard to beat when craving something creamy, filling, affordable, and oh-so comforting. Though not necessarily associated with funerals in the U.S., that's an entirely different matter across the pond in Ireland. There's a thing call Irish funeral sandwiches, and they admittedly rival classic egg salad sandwiches in terms of what goes inside and how it lands on the taste buds.  

The sandwich is a mainstay at Irish wakes and funeral gatherings, bearing the same general persona of a plain egg salad but piling on lots more intrigue. Modern versions of Irish funeral sandwiches start with chopped hard-boiled eggs and mayonnaise (or salad cream), then gather up a bevy of mixed-in compatriots such as ham, tomato, lettuce, cucumbers, and green onions, finally landing between two slices of white bread. The grand finale is cutting the sandwiches into triangles.

Similar to standard egg salad sandwiches by U.S. standards, they're considered a comfort food, thus explaining their presence at Irish funerals. But equally important, the tradition of serving them at wakes is a nod to Irish hospitality in general, but especially during times of mourning. Food and drink historically provided nourishment for wake visitors who might spend hours (or even overnight) with the bereaved family. And still today, funeral foods, including these sandwiches, are part of the expected grieving ritual, sharing and partaking in the offering of solace. They also represent a ceremonial grounding when things go awry.   

All that funeral significance seems heavily weighted for an ordinary egg salad sandwich. But there's no reason to relegate the sandwich to mourning alone. Making and sharing food is a ritual played out every day all over the world — and if it involves egg salad, all the better. A classic egg salad filling in the U.S. generally centers on chopped hard-boiled eggs that are mixed with mayo, seasonings, and sometimes crunchy celery, Dijon mustard, or a special seasoning blend for the tastiest egg salad. 

By contrast, Irish funeral sandwiches are fully loaded and more substantial, thanks to the addition of ham and fresh produce, creating both savory depth and crunchy texture to counterbalance the creamy mayo and mashed eggs. Lighter versions, sans the funeral connection and the ham, are simply known as Irish salad sandwiches or "egg and onion" sandwiches, and are also made with soft, buttered bread and cut into traditional triangles. They appear at important family events including christenings, communions, confirmations, large gatherings — and yes, funerals.

In an autoethonographic exploration of food and drink at Irish funerals and wakes, published by Taylor and Francis Group, the study quoted Jocelyn Doyle as explaining, "Like death itself, the funeral sandwich is inescapable, and the predictable fillings (ham and cheese, egg mayonnaise, chicken salad, ham salad) are soothing in their repetition." For more funeral food intrigue, check out these 18 classic funeral foods, including the Irish wake cake. Otherwise, explore the hazy history of egg salad in America.