Offaly organ donor family meet President at Salthill memorial garden
A North South collaborative celebration was held at the Circle of Life Commemorative Garden in Salthill, Galway, led by Martina and Dennis Goggin, Strange Boat Donor Foundation, on Saturday, 23rd May.
A North South collaborative celebration was held at the Circle of Life Commemorative Garden in Salthill, Galway, led by Martina and Dennis Goggin, Strange Boat Donor Foundation, on Saturday, 23rd May.
At the event, a stone from the 6th century Bangor Abbey, County Down, was gifted to the garden by the Northern Ireland Organ Donation and Transplant Community.
Honouring organ donors, it marked the final day of Organ Donor Awareness Week, an annual campaign which is organised by the Irish Kidney Association (IKA) in collaboration with HSE’s Organ Donation Transplant Ireland (ODTI). More information is available on www.strangeboat.org www.ika.ie/donorweek
Pictured at the garden with special guest of honour President of Ireland Catherine Connolly were the Grennan family from Killeigh, Tullamore, Co Offaly. Willie and Carol Grennan’s son Tiernan’s organs were donated three years ago following his tragic death.
The President took time to speak with the Grennan’s including daughter Aoibhe beside the ‘Witch Hazel’ which was planted in the Circle of Life Garden in honour of Tiernan.
Also from Tullamore meeting the President was Gwen O’Donoghue, the National Media Officer, for the Irish Kidney Association, the charity which supports kidney patients and their families as well as promoting and distributing the donor card in Ireland including the digital card which can be stored in your mobile phone wallet.