Cavan blood donors celebrated
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LEFT: Charlie Gilbey, Emma Gilbey & Orla O’Brien, CEO IBTS.Image 2 of 2
Back (from left): Sean O’Reilly, Daniel Finnegan, Padraig Leddy, Ciaran Sharkey and Kevin Fay; middle, Gerry Brennan, Michael Duffy, Val Yore, Fergal Brady, Aaron Mulligan, Declan O’Gorman, Mark Hewitt, Seamus McSherry and Patrick Brady; front, James Mulligan, 100-time donor, Paudie Cooney, Daniel Lynch, Lorna Lucas, Síobhan Finnegan, Rose Cooney and Mary O’Reilly.Twenty-one Cavan residents were awarded for their significant blood donations at the annual Gold Drop and Porcelain Pelican Awards Ceremony for the North-East and Midlands’ region held by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS).
A total of 114 people, who donated 50 times, received their Gold Drop; while 22 100-time donors were awarded their Porcelain Pelicans in the Ardboyne Hotel, Navan, Co Meath.
James Mulligan was one of the 100-time donors celebrated alongside 20 other men and women from Cavan.
IBTS Chief Executive Officer Orla O’Brien thanked the donors from the “bottom of her heart” stating that “donating 50 times is quite an achievement, but donating 100 times is awe inspiring”.
“It is lovely to personally meet the donors who without their help could not benefit the many people in our hospitals every day in Ireland,” Ms O’Brien added.
Emma Gilbey from Drogheda shared her personal story following complications during childbirth. Thanking the donors, she revealed she would not have survived emergency surgery without a blood transfusion. In a heart-warming moment, her now 13-year-old son Charlie joined her in thanking the donors for saving his mum's life.
It was noted that the Ardee Centre hosted the highest number of 100-time Donor Awards to date. Area Manager Iosif Korpas thanked all the donors on their fantastic accomplishment of donating 50 and 100 times. “This requires significant dedication and they are truly inspiring.”