Strange Boat - Organ Donation Awareness

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New Audio Facility in Circle of Life Garden

Visitors to the Circle of Life Garden in Salthill will now have the opportunity of hearing the story of the garden through a new audio facility just recently installed.


The audio QR code and link are carved by Réamonn Flaherty on a mounted stone tablet, and are located at the two main entrances to the Garden/Park beside the information panels.
                                         

This “sound walk” gives the stories behind the Circle of Life Garden through the voices of Martina & Denis Goggin, whose charity, Strange Boat Donor Foundation, created the Garden in 2014, and which is dedicated to organ donors and their families.

Also included in the audio are the voices of one of the local weekly gardening volunteers, Rosaleen Sammon, and that of Organ Donation Nurse Manager at UHG, Gillian Shanahan, who gives a sensitive account of the initial process involved in organ donation.

The atmospheric bird and sea sounds, which were captured in situ by Ed Coulson who produced the audio, create an ambient and peaceful calm, as do the singing of the Waterboys song, Strange Boat, by Eleanor Shanley and the Charlie Lennon composition, “Sound Man Éamonn”.

There is no set route to follow on this “sound walk” which lasts just over 14 minutes. Visitors can wander around as they listen or find a quiet place to sit and enjoy.  

Link to audio/QR code:tinyurl.com/strange-boat


 

Spring arrives in the Circle of Life Garden

Spring to be seen everywhere in the Circle of Life Garden.


Following storm Eowyn’s dramatic visit at the end of January, February was a month many people will prefer to forget.  But come March, the magic of Spring with its new growth and myriad of colours was to be seen everywhere in the Circle of Life Garden.  

The wonder of nature continues to give us joy and hope.

 

 

  

   

 

263 organ transplants in Ireland n 2024

263 Organ Transplants as a result of Organ Donations in Ireland in 2024


According to the latest report from the HSE’s Organ Donation Transplant Ireland, 175 kidney, 9 heart, 13 lung, 40 liver and 4 pancreas transplants were completed across the three national transplant centres during 2024. Up to Friday, 27th December, there were 84 deceased and 30 living donors, a total of 114. Speaking on behalf of the ODTI, Dr. Catherine Motherway thanked the donors and their families saying, ‘‘Each year our organ donors both living and deceased continue to embody the best of humanity by giving the ultimate gift of life.”



   

Charity Cycle of Life

Peter Conboy Charity Cycle of Life with dialysis machine in tow - July 31st - August 5th


On Wednesday, July 31st, Peter Conboy from Ballygar, Galway, will embark on a remarkable five-day 240 km distance charity Cycle of Life across the country, starting at 10.30 am from Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin, ending at the Circle of Life National Organ Donor Commemorative Garden in Salthill, Galway. Unlike other long-distance charity rides, the Galway native will tow a dialysis machine, supplied by B. Braun, symbolising the journey of patients on dialysis towards the hope of a life-saving transplant. This extraordinary endeavour aims to raise awareness and funds (through Peter’s iDonate Cycle of Life) for the Irish Kidney Association (IKA) and spark conversations about the critical importance of organ donation. 


Peter’s commitment to the cause of organ donation stems from the past experience of chronic kidney disease by his wife Liz (Elizabeth) Ferry, a native of Falcarragh, in Donegal. Diagnosed at thirteen, she became a patient at Temple Street Children’s Hospital, and she endured peritoneal dialysis at home for six nights a week, for eleven hours at a time, until a donor kidney became available less than a year later. She underwent her life-changing kidney transplant at Beaumont Hospital in May 2002.


Peter’s arrival at the Circle of Life Garden in Salthill is his way of honouring the family of Liz’s donor, who made the admirable decision to donate their loved one’s organs 22 years ago, granting Liz a successful and long-lasting kidney transplant.   

The 5-Day journey is planned as follows:

Day 1 (July 31) 10.30 am (gathering from 9.30am): Departure from Temple Street Children’s Hospital cycling through traffic for 1km before joining the Royal Canal at Binns Bridge in Drumcondra,(a short diversion off the canal through Blanchardstown village), before continuing on the canal to Maynooth and then into Manor Mills Shopping Centre

Day 2 (Aug 1) 7.30 am: From Maynooth (Manor Mills S.C.) to Mullingar (Joe Dolan Statue) arriving around midday.

Day 3 (Aug 2) 7.30 am: Cycling from Mullingar (Joe Dolan Statue) to Athlone (Golden Island S.C.) arriving around midday.

Day 4 (Aug 3) 7.30 am: Traveling from Athlone (Golden Ireland S.C.) onto Ballinasloe (The Square), arriving before midday.

2.30pm approx. Leaving Ballinasloe (The Square) to Loughrea (TBC) Arrival 7pm approx..

Day 5 (Aug 4) 7.00 am: Final stretch from Loughrea to Galway, onwards to the Circle of Life Commemorative Garden, Salthill, expected arrival around midday.

Regular updates on Peter’s progress will be posted on his dedicated social media pages, Facebook @Cycle of Life and Instagram @cycleoflife24, allowing supporters to follow his journey and meet him along the way to cheer him on.

 

Further information on www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/cyclelife

and on www.ika.ie


 

Circle of Life Garden 10th anniversary event

Hundreds of Donor Families and Organ Recipients attended Circle of Life Garden 10th anniversary event.

Read more: Circle of Life Garden 10th anniversary event

   

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