Kildare mum speaks of "comfort" that late daughter (24) donated her organs to allow another person to live on

An estimated 1,600 people from across Ireland and beyond, including hundreds of families of deceased donors and transplant recipients, converged in the Church of the Holy Child, Whitehall, Dublin 9, at the weekend (Saturday, 12th October 2024) for the Irish Kidney Association 39th Annual Service of Remembrance & Thanksgiving.

Attending was mother of deceased organ donor Olivia Farrell, from Leixlip, Co Kildare whose only child Lauren was just 24 when her organs were donated after her untimely death. 

Olivia spoke about how proud she was of Lauren and referring to her organ donation she shared that "its gives great comfort to me that she has done something like that and it means that  another person is able to live on";

This unique Service is an important occasion for remembering deceased loved ones who have in their death given the gift of life to others. It's an opportunity for grateful transplant recipients, their families and the wider organ donation and transplant community including Organ Donation Transplant Ireland, organ donor coordinators and transplant coordinators, and other healthcare professionals, to give thanks and pay tribute to organ donors for their precious gifts of life.

With leaders from the Catholic Church, Church of Ireland, and the Islamic faith in Ireland, along with Humanist involvement, the Service brings together people of all beliefs, united in their support for organ donation as the ultimate act of humanity. It transcends individual spiritual beliefs, fostering a sense of shared community and mutual support in honouring the life-giving gift of organ donation. During the Service music and song by the Whitehall Church Choir under the direction of Kathryn Browne, was interspersed between poignant symbolic processions and meaningful scripture, and reflections of gratitude underpinning selflessness and faith in humanity. Following the Service, organ donor families viewed the name of their deceased donor loved one inscribed in the Book of Remembrance, a roll of honour for organ donors.

The opening procession included fourth generation Firefighter Ger Dolan in uniform, from the Claddagh in Galway and stationed at Anglesea Fire Station in Cork city. Ger donated a kidney to his brother Jimmy in 2017 three months before his 18-year-old cousin Orla tragically died and her family selflessly donated her organs saving four lives. Orla’s mother (Ger’s aunt) Dolores travelled from Cross, in Co Mayo to participate in the Service by carrying the Book of Remembrance, the roll of honour in which Orla’s and other organ donors’ names are inscribed, to the altar. Dolores did an interview with RTÉ News which was broadcast on Saturday evening's six one news and news at nine.

In a procession carrying baskets of the Irish Kidney Association’s emblem Forget-me-not flowers, the symbol of transplantation, were: Niamh Donnelly from Gorey, Wexford and Rose Harte from Greystones, Co Wicklow.  Niamh Donnelly and her parents, Walter and Louise,  made the courageous decision, following the tragic death early last year of her 18-year-old brother, Colm, to donate his organs, a profound decision shaped by her family's experience with two relatives - one who received a transplant and another who sadly passed away while waiting for one.  Rose Harte’s family followed the expressed wishes of her beloved 31-year-old daughter, Emma, who was engaged to be married and a mother to a little girl, by donating her organs following her untimely death six years ago.

Aidan O’Donovan, a former police officer from Donnycarney, Dublin and his family consented to organ donation after his late brother, Paul, passed away at the age of 33 while waiting for a lung transplant. Although Paul did not receive the transplant he needed, his heart valves were donated, giving others the chance to live.

 Noel Farrell from Dunboyne, Co Meath who honoured his late wife Celia as she was a long time carrier of an organ donor card;  and Barry McDonnell, a Dublin native living on Ennis Road in Limerick was remembering his late sister Anne who passed away when she was 30 years old; 

Posters on the theme of organ donation, prepared by second level students from Ellenfield Community College, in Whitehall, were displayed on the church walls, emphasising the message of generosity and life. Carrying one of the teenagers’ posters in a procession, was Dublin native Brian Gallagher, now living in Brandon, Co Kerry, whose son Cian was just 26 when he passed and became an organ donor saving three people’s lives.

The Service is an important annual event on the calendar for many families of organ donors, many of whom make it a priority to attend every year. It serves as a meaningful opportunity to remember their loved ones and honour the gift of life their donations have provided to others. Eileen and Seamus Barry, from Boyle, Co Roscommon brought candles to the altar, their son Shane was just 22 years old when he passed away over three decades and they have attended the Service of Remembrance almost every year since. Also taking part having attended the Service for many years was Bernadette Kenny from Finglas East, Dublin whose father Danny was 53 when he passed away in 1995. Danny, a father of four, carried an organ donor card and his wish to be an organ donor was honoured.

Joan Hussey, from Kilfinn, Tralee, Co Kerry son David was just 11 years old when he died in 1990 and his family take consolation in his legacy having donated five organs and learning over two decades later that one of the recipients, who was just eight-year-old at the time of transplant, now has a family of his own.

Grateful transplant recipients participating in the Service included Aileen Kilroy Glynn from Athlone, Co Westmeath who received a kidney transplant from a deceased donor in 2013; Joseph Molloy from Abbeyleix, Co Laois who received a kidney transplant in 2007; and Simon Keegan from Balbriggan, Dublin who received a heart transplant at the age of 31, having been first diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in his teens.

Mary Adamson, a retired schoolteacher from Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, received a living donor kidney transplant as part of the paired exchange programme last year following 15 years on dialysis. Previously she received two kidney transplants from deceased donors. Anne Hackett, also a retired schoolteacher, from Thurles in Co Tipperary,  received a deceased donor kidney transplant in 2022 following four years of dialysis treatment.

Three young transplant recipients who carried their medals from the British Transplant Games held this Summer, in a procession were:  Sam Kinahan (age 10) from Donaghmede, Dublin who received kidney transplant from his donor father Ivan when he was five;  Iarla Fahy Rabbitt (8) from Colemanstown, Galway whose mother Denise donated part of her liver to him in 2022 and went on to have another baby later; and Laura McDowell (15) from Dalkey, Dublin whose aunt Deirdre O’Gorman donated part of her liver to her when she was a baby. Laura also won medals at the European Transplant Sports Championships this summer as the youngest member of Transplant Sport Ireland. Both Sam Kinahan and Laura McDowell were interviewed by Virgin Media News which was broadcast that evening.

Other young transplant recipients taking part in the Service included Yan Sun (14), from Balbriggan, Dublin who underwent a kidney transplant when he was seven, brought one of his sketches to the altar; Lexi Murphy (14) from Annestown, Waterford,  who received a liver and kidney transplant from a deceased donor when she was six years old, brought her ballet shoes to the altar representing the dance art form she enjoys. Lexi was interviewed by RTÉ News which was broadcast on Saturday evening.

Leading members of Transplant Sport Ireland (TSI) in the symbolic Service of Light ceremony by lighting candles for the congregation to remember organ donors were the eldest and youngest member of the team who participated in the European Transplant Sports Championships in Lisbon this Summer, Ron Grainger, a retired urologist who received a deceased donor kidney transplant recipient from Castleknock, Dublin, and liver transplant recipient Laura McDowell, from Dalkey, Dublin. (Names and outline addresses of other TSI members who took part are below this press release).

Greeting the congregation was presider Bishop Paul Dempsey, Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin. A reading from The Gospel according to Luke  (6:36-38) was read by Reverend Damian Murray.  Reverend Robert Smyth, Parish Priest, was also a celebrant at the inter-faith service.

The Homily was given by the Most Reverend Dr. Michael Jackson, Archbishop of Dublin and Bishop of Glendalough, Primate of Ireland and Metropolitan, Church of Ireland.

Moya Corcoran, Humanist Association of Ireland, from Dublin 9,  shared her thoughts on the gift of life and our interconnectedness.

In his Reflection, Shaykh Dr. Umar Al-Qadri, Chief Imam, Islamic Centre of Ireland, shared, “In Islam, the giving of life is considered one of the highest forms of charity and selflessness. Today, as we remember the sacrifices of donor families and celebrate the new life granted to recipients, we also extend our prayers and gratitude. May those who have given be rewarded abundantly and may the lives they have touched inspire hope and unity across communities, regardless of faith or background. Such acts of generosity remind us that humanity’s shared purpose is to uplift and protect one another.”

Among the wider organ donation and transplant community were healthcare professionals carrying out reading roles were: Dr. Carol Traynor, Consultant Nephrologist, Beaumont Hospital; Eimear Dempsey, Organ Donor Coordinator, Organ Donation and Transplant Ireland; Jennifer Fleming, Liver Transplant Coordinator, St Vincent’s University Hospital; Dr. Usman Haroon, Transplant Surgeon, Beaumont Hospital; Marie Bates, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Children’s Hospital Temple Street; and Caroline Doyle, Pancreas Transplant Coordinator, St Vincent’s University Hospital.

Organ Donor Nurse Managers who work in the coalface of organ donation were there to support organ donor families.

Attending the Service was the family of 10-year-old school boy Dylan Coady Coleman from Shannon, Co Clare who passed away this year after he was struck by a van. Just a few weeks before Dylan after a discussion in school about organ donation, expressed through his mother that he'd love to give his organs for somebody who might need them if ever he died. His grandfather, Bernard, held a photo of Dylan through the Service and in his interview with RTÉ News featured later that evening saying, "The fact that Dylan, in his death, has gone on to help others has given the family some solace, he said.  We'll celebrate hs life forever. I'm very proud of him".

Éilis Carlin, from Cloghan, Donegal, brought a picture of her son Tony who was 25 when he passed away in 2019. She said, "the decision to donate his organs, saving four lives, was an easy one, as we knew we were following his wishes".   Seamy McDermott, from Ballybofey, Co Donegal  told Virgin Media TV News that he received a kidney from his deceased donor twenty-two and a half years ago. He said, "Every morning I wake up and say a wee prayer to my donor. I wouldn't be here today but for my donor".  

Among the hundreds of other organ donor families who attended were; Margaret and Ger Reidy from Loughill Co Limerick attended with their son Cian to remember their deceased organ donor daughter Miriam; the Jordan family from Bohola, Co Mayo, were remembering Stephen Jordan who passed away in December 2023 aged 42 years; and the Connolly family from Swords, Co Dublin were remembering their beloved Sinead. 

The Irish Kidney Association’s National Honorary Chairman, Eddie Flood, a kidney transplant recipient, from Killucan, Co Westmeath, performed the role of narrator at the Service. The Service will be recorded by Kairos Communications for broadcast on RTÉ One on 17th November at 11am.

The Organising and Liturgy Committee included: Cathriona Charles (kidney recipient from Mohill, Leitrim), Joan Gavan (living kidney donor from Donohill, Tipperary), Ashling Hand (Lucan, Dublin), Michelle Horan (dialysis patient from Athy, Kildare), Gwen O’Donoghue (Offaly), and Olive Cummins, Interim CEO, Irish Kidney Association.

Assisting Olive with celebrants' liaison were Irish Kidney Association volunteers Elsie Moore from Brandon, Co Kerry and Marie Fowley from Hazelwood, Sligo who were also ushers at the Service along with Joe and Frances Moynihan from Ballinamult, Waterford and Eoin Madden from Athenry, Galway.