Families from all over County Clare and surrounding counties attended the Annual Mass of remembrance and thanksgiving for organ donors and recipients at Ennis Cathedral on Sunday.
Organised by the Clare Branch of the Irish Kidney Association (IKA) and celebrated by Fr. Tom Hogan, the Mass was attended by the Mayor of Clare Councillor Pat Daly who afterwards met with donor families as well as local transplant recipients.
Also in attendance was IKA National Chairperson, Martin Doody; National Transplant Co-ordinator at Beaumont Hospital, Phyllis Cunningham; and Clinical Nurse Manager II, Hazel O’Brien of St Vincent’s Hospital.
Speaking following the Mass, Mayor Daly said: “I was delighted to accept the IKA’s invitation to attend the mass which remembered and honoured the memory of all organ donors. In attending I wanted to pay tribute to the many donor families around Clare for their immense courage and compassion in donating their loved ones’ organs.”
Mayor Daly acknowledged that 2013 is a landmark year for the IKA, both locally and nationally.
He added: “The national organisation celebrates its 35th anniversary this year while 2013 marks 25 years since the Clare branch of the IKA was established. During this time, the local branch and its members have carried out valuable work in highlighting the importance of carrying an organ donor card and raising awareness of the need for more organ donors amongst the general public. There are many hundreds of people around County Clare who have benefited from organ donations during this time and I would like to stress how important it is for people to consider carrying an organ donor card.”
According to Treasurer of the IKA’s Clare Branch, Peggy Eustace: ““During our Mass, IKA Branch member Maureen Organ brought a lighted candle to the altar in memory of all of our donors. Maureen’s late husband Jim was a transplant recipient and following the recent death of her Grandnephew, Eric, in a road accident, his family donated his organs. We thank the donors’ families who have shown generosity and compassion in donating their loved ones’ organs. These families have at a time of great distress for themselves remembered those who were awaiting the gift of a life-saving transplant. This gift has transformed the lives of over two thousand kidney recipients in Ireland and many thousands of other transplantees around the country.”
“The Clare branch of the IKA greatly appreciates the beautiful mass Fr Tom Hogan celebrated in remembrance of our donors and in thanksgiving from our transplant recipients. I also wish to acknowledge of soloist Catriona McNicholas and the Cathedral Choir, whose musical contribution added greatly to what was very special occasion,” Peggy concluded.
The Irish Kidney Association is a charitable voluntary organisation founded in 1978. The Clare Branch was established in 1988. For more visit www.ika.ie.
Organised by the Clare Branch of the Irish Kidney Association (IKA) and celebrated by Fr. Tom Hogan, the Mass was attended by the Mayor of Clare Councillor Pat Daly who afterwards met with donor families as well as local transplant recipients.
Also in attendance was IKA National Chairperson, Martin Doody; National Transplant Co-ordinator at Beaumont Hospital, Phyllis Cunningham; and Clinical Nurse Manager II, Hazel O’Brien of St Vincent’s Hospital.
Speaking following the Mass, Mayor Daly said: “I was delighted to accept the IKA’s invitation to attend the mass which remembered and honoured the memory of all organ donors. In attending I wanted to pay tribute to the many donor families around Clare for their immense courage and compassion in donating their loved ones’ organs.”
Mayor Daly acknowledged that 2013 is a landmark year for the IKA, both locally and nationally.
He added: “The national organisation celebrates its 35th anniversary this year while 2013 marks 25 years since the Clare branch of the IKA was established. During this time, the local branch and its members have carried out valuable work in highlighting the importance of carrying an organ donor card and raising awareness of the need for more organ donors amongst the general public. There are many hundreds of people around County Clare who have benefited from organ donations during this time and I would like to stress how important it is for people to consider carrying an organ donor card.”
According to Treasurer of the IKA’s Clare Branch, Peggy Eustace: ““During our Mass, IKA Branch member Maureen Organ brought a lighted candle to the altar in memory of all of our donors. Maureen’s late husband Jim was a transplant recipient and following the recent death of her Grandnephew, Eric, in a road accident, his family donated his organs. We thank the donors’ families who have shown generosity and compassion in donating their loved ones’ organs. These families have at a time of great distress for themselves remembered those who were awaiting the gift of a life-saving transplant. This gift has transformed the lives of over two thousand kidney recipients in Ireland and many thousands of other transplantees around the country.”
“The Clare branch of the IKA greatly appreciates the beautiful mass Fr Tom Hogan celebrated in remembrance of our donors and in thanksgiving from our transplant recipients. I also wish to acknowledge of soloist Catriona McNicholas and the Cathedral Choir, whose musical contribution added greatly to what was very special occasion,” Peggy concluded.
The Irish Kidney Association is a charitable voluntary organisation founded in 1978. The Clare Branch was established in 1988. For more visit www.ika.ie.
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