The way we mark momentous life events has changed since the UK entered its first lockdown one year ago.

Missing births, deaths and marriages has become commonplace - not least for those living far from home.

BBC News NI has spoken to ex-pats from the island of Ireland who has been unable to travel home for key events in their families' lives during the pandemic.

'It was almost like an out-of-body experience'

Watching her father's funeral on a live video stream was a surreal, yet strangely beautiful experience for Anita Downey.

Anita, who is originally from Newry, County Down, now lives in Wellington, New Zealand.

She is the youngest of nine children and has returned to Northern Ireland to see her family every year since moving abroad almost 30 years ago.

It was, she said, "a really important part of my life".

But when her father died in September 2020, quarantine rules meant she could not return home for his funeral.

"Any other time one of my parents got sick, as soon as I got the call I dropped everything and went home.

"But of course it was different this time.

"Unfortunately with the global pandemic that was completely cut off."

Anita explored her options for returning home, but was concerned about bringing Covid to her family, or being unable to return to her family in New Zealand after the funeral due to pressure on quarantine facilities.

More than 18,000 people died in Northern Ireland in the 12 months since the pandemic began in March 2020.

Many of them had relatives abroad who faced similar predicaments to Anita.

Anita said she knew her father, "a pragmatic man", would not have wanted her to risk travelling for his funeral. Instead, her family arranged for it to be filmed.

Watching the service late at night, with a bowl of stew made by a friend, was, she said, "almost like an out-of-body experience".

"There were my brothers carrying my daddy's coffin into the chapel with black masks on, and I thought this is like a movie."

"I never thought it would be possible to feel part of something that was live streamed.

"But it was so beautifully done, and he was given such a beautiful send off, that I actually felt like I was there."