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Launching Organ Donor Awareness Week in Kerry were, John Brassil TD, Chairman of the Irish Kidney Association in Kerry, Con Brosnan and friends. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
AT an special house in Killerisk, newly elected Fianna Fáil TD, John Brassil, helped launch Organ Donor Awareness Week which runs from April 2-9.
The purpose of the week is to raise awareness of the Irish Kidney Association and the importance of carrying a donor card.
The launch took place at the holiday home run by Kerry branch of the Irish Kidney Association for patients on dialysis.
Newly elected TD, John Brassil’s late father Noel was on kidney dialysis for a number of years. In 1999 he received a transplant which unfortunately was unsuccessful and he passed away later on that year.
“The work done by the Irish Kidney Association is fantastic,” said Deputy Brassil. “Now in my role as a new TD, I will do everything I can to promote the association,” he said.
John’s father Noel was a former Cathaoirleach of Kerry of Kerry County Council. One year before he passed away he took part in the St Patrick’s Day parade in New York as Mayor of Kerry.
This was made possible due to the work of the Irish Kidney Association who organised dialysis for him while he was in America.
The Irish Kidney Association in Kerry run a holiday home for dialysis patients, the only one of its kind in Ireland, at Castlelawn in Killerisk.
“We saw a need in Kerry as a holiday destination where people on dialysis could visit free of charge,” said Patient Support Officer on the Irish Kidney association in Kerry, Theresa Looney.
The service runs from April to October and invites a new family each week to come and stay free of charge.
The four-bedroom-house in Killierisk is over-subscribed every year and is of huge benefit for people all over Ireland who come to stay.
The house is also used for therapies, counselling and group meetings. Patients with long commutes to and from Kerry University Hospital stay over at the house which eases the stress and strain of travel.
Organ donation received massive publicity during the week after the video of Killorglin man, Brian O’Sullivan, paying tribute to his late friend Ger Foley, who had two lung transplants, went viral.
The star of the video has since reminded people of the importance of carrying a donor card with them at all times.
“The amount of awareness it created was huge, you couldn’t buy the publicity,” said Theresa Looney. “After receiving a double lung transplant Ger went on to live an normal life as possible, he was able to get married and have children,” she added.
However, the medication that Ger Foley took following the double lung transplant over time damaged his kidneys and as a result he was put on a waiting list for a kidney.
For more information on donor cards, or if you wish to contact the Irish Kidney Association, you can visit their website HERE or contact Theresa Looney by email – tlooney@eircom.net. You can also call the Irish Donor Network on LoCall: 1890-543 639.
