Limerick organ donor family take part in service to honour donors

MORE than 1,200 people from all over Ireland converged in Mullingar for the Irish Kidney Association 38th Annual Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving, including a Limerick family. 

The service, which honours organ donors and celebrates their gift of life to others, was held at the Cathedral of Christ the King, on Saturday, October 14.

Taking part in symbolic processional and reading roles were courageous families of deceased organ donors, living kidney and liver donors and grateful transplant recipients of heart, lungs, liver, kidney, and pancreas, including Gerard and Margaret Reidy from Loughill West, Limerick who have attended since their daughter Miriam passed away in 1997.

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For many donor families the unique service has become an anniversary to both remember their loved ones, and for transplant recipients, the opportunity to honour and give thanks for the wonderful ‘gift of life’ they have received.

Individuals of all faiths, non-religious including humanists, came together to celebrate the gift of life.

Also participating were members of the wider organ donation and transplant community, including medical, surgical, and nursing staff.

The annual Service of Remembrance was recorded and will be broadcast on RTÉ One television and RTÉ Radio One Extra on Sunday November 5 at 11am.