Mayo Organ Donor family in Dublin for Irish Kidney Associate service

An estimated 1,600 people from across Ireland and beyond gathered for the Irish Kidney Association’s thirty-ninth annual service, including the Jordan family from Bohola.

Among the hundreds of organ donor families who attended were the Jordan family who were remembering Stephen Jordan who passed away in December 2023 aged 42 years.

Additionally, the opening procession included fourth generation firefighter Ger Dolan in uniform, from 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 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.

Those present in the Church of the Holy Child, in Whitehall, on Saturday, October 12 included hundreds of families of deceased donors and transplant recipients.

The 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. 

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, as well as 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.

Becoming an organ donor is a simple process - carry a donor card, note your consent on your driving licence, or set up the organ donor app on your phone, but most importantly Share Your Wishes with your loved ones.

For more information on organ donation and the Irish Kidney Association, see their website