Cheque presentation for Organ Donor Memory Boxes at University Hospital Galway

A generous donation of €20,000 has been presented to the Thinking of You memory box project for organ donors at University Hospital Galway (UHG), in memory of the late Simon Quinn from Abbeyknockmoy, Co. Galway.

The cheque was presented by Simon’s parents, Carmel and Fred Quinn, together with Simon’s brother Aaron and sister Iarla. The funds were raised through an iDonate page and a community auction, which received overwhelming support from the people of Abbeyknockmoy and surrounding areas.

The Thinking of You memory box is a symbol of respect and compassion for organ donors and their families, reflecting empathy and care during life’s most difficult moments. Through meaningful keepsakes, the project offers comfort during end-of-life care and the donation process, helping families preserve connection, create cherished memories, and find lasting support in their grief.

Led by Gillian Shanahan, Organ Donation Nurse Manager, HSE West and North West, this initiative is inspired by the selfless decision to become an organ donor, an act that saves and transforms lives. Its growth has been made possible through the continued support of donor families. What began as a small nursing project offering comfort has evolved into a gift of memories shared from one donor family to another, a powerful reflection of empathy, compassion, and humanity at its finest.

The Quinn family shared, “It was our honour to raise funds for this amazing project. The Thinking of You memory box brings us great comfort, knowing that Simon has a keepsake with him - a lasting connection that we’ll always treasure. Every detail of the box reminds us of the compassion and care shown by the staff at University Hospital Galway during an unimaginably difficult time. We would be overjoyed to see these boxes launched nationwide, allowing other families to create cherished memories, just as we were able to do with Simon.”

Gillian Shanahan, Organ Donation Nurse Manager and Project Lead for the Thinking of You memory box project, expressed her deep appreciation and said, “On behalf of the team at University Hospital Galway, we would like to thank the Quinn Family for their efforts in raising this remarkable amount. This generous donation will help us continue to support donor families through this project. Each memory box is a reminder of the organ donor’s legacy, not only through the lives saved but also through the comfort and healing these keepsakes bring to the families.”