Galway organ donors will be honoured in a special Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving to be broadcast on RTE 1 on Sunday (11am ).
People from all walks of life and beliefs are invited to honour organ donors in this special inter-church service which was pre-recorded at Newman University Church, Dublin.
It includes readings and messages from the President Michael D Higgins, the Archbishop of Dublin and Glendalough, Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, and the Archbishop of Dublin, Most Rev Diarmuid Martin.
The service commences with a recording from the Circle of Life National Organ Donor Commemorative Garden in Salthill with Eleanor Shanley singing, accompanied by classical guitarist John Feeley. Also present in the garden for the recording were some grateful transplant recipients from the Galway area, and the garden’s creators, Denis and Martina Goggin, the parents of Éamonn whose organs were donated following a road crash in 2006.
For many donor families this annual service has become an anniversary to remember their loved ones, and for transplant recipients the opportunity to honour and give thanks for the wonderful ‘gift of life’ they have received.
The public is being asked to actively participate in this year’s virtual service by lighting a candle in their home in memory of deceased donors who gave the wonderful gift of life to others.
This will be the first time for the inter-denominational service, organised annually by the Irish Kidney Association, to go virtual, and will feature on RTÉ One and RTÉ Radio One Extra (LW252 ). It can also be viewed on RTÉ Player www.rte.ie/player and the Irish Kidney Association’s website www.ika.ie
