Athlone transplant recipient takes part in national remembrance service

by James Duffy

A local transplant recipient was among an estimated 1,600 people who gathered at the Church of the Holy Child in Dublin on Saturday to commemorate deceased organ donors across the nation.

Aileen Kilroy Glynn, from Athlone, took part in the Irish Kidney Association’s 39th Annual Service of Remembrance & Thanksgiving. This is a yearly service which unifies people of all beliefs across Ireland, many of whom are grateful recipients of organ donations or have a loved one who, in their death gave the gift of life to a stranger by donating their organs to those who need them most.

The Irish Kidney Association’s National Honorary Chairman, Eddie Flood, a kidney transplant recipient, from Killucan, Co Westmeath, performed the role of a narrator at the service which included music by the Whitehall Church Choir while various readings and testimonies took place to honor the selflessness of the organ donors.

Aileen Kilroy Glynn, who received a kidney donation from a donor in 2013, also participated.

As the service concluded family members were given the opportunity to see their loved one's name written in the Book of Remembrance, a roll of honor to organ donors.

The service was recorded by Kairos Communications and will be available to watch on RTÉ One on Sunday, November 17, at 11am.