Organ donors honoured

A CONGREGATION of close to 2,000 people attended the Irish Kidney Association’s (IKA) 34th Annual Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving at Corpus Christi Church, Homefarm Road, recently to honour organ donors and their families. 

Courageous families of deceased organ donors and living donors and grateful transplant recipients of heart, lungs, liver, kidney, pancreas and bone marrow took part in the ecumenical service.  

Members of the wider organ donation and transplant community, including donor and transplant coordinators and medical, surgical and nursing staff, also attended the service.

Organ donor families were invited to view their family's entry in the ‘Book of Remembrance’ at Corpus Christi Church for a short time after the service. 

Refreshments were served in the adjoining Community and Scout Hall.

Among the deceased organ donors remembered at the Service was the late John Byrne (39) from Oldtown in north county Dublin. 

John who is deeply missed by his family since his death following a road traffic incident at a pedestrian 
crossing had Downs Syndrome.  

John’s loving sister Áine Byrne took part in the procession of gifts taking a candle to the altar.  

Aine’s parents Barbara and Tom Byrne also attended along with her brother Daire.  

The Lord Mayor of Dublin Paul McAuliffe also took a candle to the altar. 

For organ donor cards Freetext DONOR to 50050 or visit website www.ika.ie/get-a-donor-card  

You can also download the IKA’s digital organ donor card on your smartphone.

See more photos from the event on Page 25.