This unique service is an important opportunity to remember loved ones who have passed away and who gave the gift of life to others. This is a valuable gift for grateful transplant recipients and their families, and for the broader organ donation and transplant community, including Organ Donation and Transplantation Ireland, Organ Donation Coordinators and Transplant Coordinators, and other health professionals. It is an opportunity to express gratitude and respect to those who life.
With humanitarian involvement from the Catholic Church, the Church of Ireland, and Ireland's Muslim leaders, this service brings together people of all faiths to unite in support of organ donation as the ultimate act of humanity. I will. It goes beyond individual spiritual beliefs and fosters a sense of common community and mutual support that honors the life-giving gift of organ donation.
During the service, music and songs by the Whitehall Church Choir, conducted by Kathryn Brown, were interspersed with poignant symbolic processions, meaningful scripture, and thankful thoughts that support selflessness and faith in humanity. . After the service, the organ donor's family viewed the names of the deceased donor's loved ones inscribed in the Book of Memoriam, the organ donor's record of honor.
Also joining in the opening procession was Ger Dolan, a fourth-generation uniformed firefighter from Claddagh, Co. Galway, stationed at Anglesey Fire Station in Cork City.
Ger donated her kidney to her brother Jimmy in 2017, three months before her 18-year-old cousin Orla tragically passed away, and her family selflessly donated her organs to help save four lives. saved. Orla's mother (Ger's aunt) Dolores traveled from Cross, Co. Mayo, to carry the Book of Remembrance, an honorary list containing the names of Orla and other organ donors, to the altar. Participated in Dolores gave an interview to RTÉ News, which aired on Saturday evening's SixOne News and 9 o'clock news.
Niamh Donnelly, of Gorey, Co. Wexford, and Rose Hart, of Greystones, Co. Wicklow, took part in the procession carrying baskets of forget-me-not flowers, the symbol of transplantation on the emblem of the Kidney Society of Ireland. Niamh Donnelly and her parents, Walter and Louise, made the courageous decision to donate his organs after the tragic death of his 18-year-old brother Colm early last year. It was a profound decision shaped by her family's experiences with two relatives. Some people have had transplants and some have sadly passed away while waiting for a transplant. Following the untimely death six years ago of their beloved daughter Emma, 31, who was due to marry and become the mother of a young girl, Rose Hart's family followed her expressed wishes by having her organs removed. provided.
Aidan O'Donovan, a former police officer from Donnycarney, Co. Dublin, and his family have agreed to donate his organs after his late brother Paul died aged 33 while awaiting a lung transplant. Although Paul did not receive the transplant he needed, he was given a heart valve, giving others a chance to live.
Other donor families who took part in the reading and procession included Olivia Farrell, of Leaklip, Co Kildare. Her only child, Lauren, was only 24 years old at the time. In an interview with Virgin Media News, Olivia spoke about how proud she was of Lauren and mentioned organ donation, saying: “It gives me great comfort that she did something like that.'' “It means that other people can live.” “;Noel Farrell, of Dunboyne, Co. Meath, paid tribute to his late wife Celia, who held an organ donation card for many years. Barry McDonnell, from Dublin, of Ennis Road, Limerick, died aged 30. It reminded me of my late sister Anne.
Organ donation posters created by second-year students at Ellenfield Community College in Whitehall were displayed on the walls of the church, highlighting the message of generosity and life. Carrying one of the posters of teenagers in the queue was Brian Gallagher from Dublin, now living in Brandon, Co. Kerry, and his son Sian, 26, at the time. He died shortly afterwards, and became an organ donor, saving three people's lives.
This service is an important annual event for many organ donor families, many of whom make it a priority to attend each year. It is a meaningful opportunity to remember loved ones and honor the gift of life that their donation gave to others.
Eileen and Seamus Barry, a Roscommon couple from Boyle, Colo., brought candles to the altar and said that since their son Shane died more than 30 years ago at just 22 years old, the couple have He attends the memorial service every year. Bernadette Kenny, from Finglas East, Dublin, also attended the service for many years, and her father Danny was 53 when he died in 1995. Danny, a father of four, had an organ donor card and his own desire to become an organ donor. Awarded.
Joan Hussey, from Kilfin, Tralee, Co. Kelly's son David was just 11 years old when he died in 1990. His family donated five organs, and they take solace in his accomplishments, learning more than 20 years later that one of his donors was just 8 years old. I was – years old at the time of the transplant, and now I have my own family.
Grateful transplant recipients who took part in the service included Eileen Kilroy-Glynn from Athlone, Co. Westmeath, who received a kidney transplant from a deceased donor in 2013. Joseph Molloy, from Abairex, Co. Laois, received a kidney transplant in 2007. Simon Keegan, from Balbriggan, Dublin, was first diagnosed with cardiomyopathy as a teenager and underwent a heart transplant at the age of 31.
Mary Adamson, a former school teacher from Clonmel, Co Tipperary, received a living donor kidney transplant last year as part of the Pair Exchange Program after undergoing dialysis for 15 years. Previously, she received two kidney transplants from deceased donors. Anne Hackett, a former teacher from Thurles, Co Tipperary, also received a kidney transplant from a deceased donor in 2022 after four years of dialysis treatment.
The three young transplant recipients who joined the procession carrying their medals from this summer's British Transplant Games were Sam Kinahan, 10, from Donagmead, Co. Dublin, whose father, who was a donor when he was five years old, Received a kidney transplant from Ivan. Iara Fahey Rabbitt, 8, from Colemanstown, Co. Galway. His mother, Denise, donated part of her liver to him in 2022 and later gave birth to another baby. Laura McDowell, 15, from Dalkey, Dublin, had part of her liver donated to her when she was a baby by her aunt Deirdre O'Gorman.
Laura also won a medal at this summer's European Transplant Sports Championships as the youngest member of Irish Transplant Sports. Sam Kinahan and Laura McDowell were both interviewed on Virgin Media News, which aired that night.
Other young transplant patients who took part in the service include Jan Sun, 14, from Balbriggan, Dublin. He received a kidney transplant at the age of seven and brought one of his sketches to the altar. Lexi Murphy, 14, from Annestown, Co. Waterford, who received a liver and kidney transplant from a deceased donor when she was six years old, has placed her ballet shoes on an altar representing the dance art form she enjoys. I brought it. Lexi was interviewed on RTÉ News which aired on Saturday evening.
Key members of Transplant Sport Ireland (TSI) took part in the European Transplant Sport Championships in Lisbon this summer in a symbolic service of light ceremony where the congregation lights a candle in memory of an organ donor. They were the oldest and youngest members of the team, Ron Grainger. , a former urologist who received a kidney transplant from a deceased donor from Castleknock, Dublin, and a former urologist who received a liver transplant from Laura McDowell, who received a liver transplant from Dalkey, Dublin. (The names and summary addresses of other TSI members who participated can be found at the bottom of this press release).
Bishop Paul Dempsey, chairman of the Auxiliary Bishops of Dublin, greeted the congregation. The Gospel of Luke (6:36-38) was read by Pastor Damien Murray. The parish priest, the Rev. Robert Smith, also officiated at the interfaith service.
The sermon was delivered by Dr Michael Jackson, Archbishop of Dublin and Bishop of Glendalough, Primate Bishop of Ireland, Metropolitan and Most Reverend of the Church of Ireland.
Moya Corcoran, resident of the Humanist Society of Ireland, Dublin 9, shared her thoughts on the gift of life and our interconnectedness.
Among the broader organ donation and transplant community, medical professionals who have served in reading roles include: Eimear Dempsey, Irish Organ Donation and Transplant Organ Donation Coordinator. Jennifer Fleming, St. Vincent's University Hospital Liver Transplant Coordinator. Dr. Usman Haroon, Transplant Surgeon, Beaumont Hospital; Marie Bates, Temple Street Children's Hospital Clinical Nurse Specialist. Caroline Doyle, Pancreas Transplant Coordinator, St. Vincent's University Hospital.
Organ Donor Nurse Managers, who work on the front lines of organ donation, were there to support organ donor families.
Attending the service were the family of Dylan Cody Coleman, a 10-year-old schoolboy from Shannon, Co Clare, who died after being hit by a van this year. Just a few weeks ago, after discussing organ donation at school, Dylan expressed through his mother that if he were to die, he would like to donate his organs to someone who needs them.
Grandfather Bernard held up a photo of Dylan through this service and said in an interview with RTÉ News featured later that night: “The fact that Dylan continued to help others even after he died is a great blessing to our family.'' It gave me some comfort.” We will celebrate his life forever, I said. ”
Eilis Carlin, from Croghan, Co. Donegal, brought a photo of her son Tony, who was 25 at the time of his death in 2019. “It was an easy decision to donate our organs and save four lives because we knew we would.” according to his wishes. ”
Seamie McDermott, from Ballybofey, Co Donegal, told Virgin Media TV News that she received a kidney from a deceased donor 22-and-a-half years ago. He said, “I wake up every morning and say a little prayer to my donor. If it wasn't for my donor, I wouldn't be here today.”
Hundreds of other organ donor families also participated. Margaret and Gar Reddy, from Lawhill, Co Limerick, attended with their son Sian to remember their late organ donor daughter Miriam. The Jordan family of Bohola, Mayor, remembered Stephen Jordan, who passed away in December 2023 at the age of 42. The Connolly family, of Swords, Co. Dublin, remember their beloved Sinead.
Eddie Flood, national honorary president of the Irish Kidney Association and a kidney transplant patient from Kilcun, County Westmeath, acted as narrator at the service. The service will be recorded by Kairos Communications for broadcast on RTÉ One on November 17 at 11am.
The Institutional Liturgy Committee includes Cathriona Charles (kidney recipient from Mohill, Co. Leitrim), Joanne Gavan (living kidney donor from Donohill, Co. Tipperary), Ashling Hand (Lucan, Co. Dublin) and Michelle Horan (kidney recipient from Mohill, County Leitrim). They included Gwen, a dialysis patient from Athy, Co. Kildare. Mr O'Donoghue (Offaly) and Olive Cummins, Interim CEO of the Kidney Association of Ireland.
Assisting Olive as celebrant liaison were Irish Kidney Society volunteers Elsie Moore from Brandon, Co. Kerry, Marie Foley from Hazelwood, Co. Sligo, and Joe Moynihan from Ballynamoult, Co. Waterford. and Frances Moynihan, and Eoin Madden, of Athenry, Co. Galway, were also guides at the service.
