The Circle of Life National Organ Donor Commemorative Garden had an event last Saturday in honour of its tenth anniversary, where hundreds gathered from across the country to remember and honour organ donors and their families.
Located in Salthill, The Circle of Life Garden has become a significant and special place of comfort for donor families over the last ten years. It is used as a centre of appreciation and reflection for donors, and a place of healing and hope for all those who visit.
The garden symbolises the enduring legacy of the donors that will live on through the recipients, and the positive transformations that the sacrifice gives.
The garden was created by Denis and Martina Goggin alongside the charity, Strange Boat Donor Foundation, to acknowledge and commemorate the lives of organ donors, and to represent the beauty of the spirit of donation.
Their son, Éamonn’s life and memory inspired the creation of the garden, whose organs were donated following a car crash in their home village of Spiddal in 2006. On what would have been his birthday, Denis and Martina invited donor families and all those who have benefited from donations to celebrate the lives of donors and the ten year anniversary of the Gardens first opening.