Letterkenny Hospital and the Donegal Team - “Charity begins at home: The GAA and Organ Transplantation”

The renowned transplant surgeon, Mr David Hickey, gave a moving, accurate and up to date lecture as guest speaker at Letterkenny General Hospital’s Research Day Symposium last week (Friday 22 November).
 
Mr Hickey was invited by Mr Charles McManus, Director of Medical Education at Letterkenny General Hospital and Team Physician to the Donegal county footballers, to give a talk on the volunteerism that forms the bedrock for both organ transplantation and grass roots GAA.
 
Mr Hickey’s talk “Charity begins at home: The GAA and Organ Transplantation” was an exceptional lecture that incorporated relevant statistics regarding organ transplantation in Ireland, interspersed with tales of David’s life as an elite Gaelic footballer, who was once pursued by Toulon Rugby club eager for his acquisition to play out half for them in the French League.
 
Mr Hickey asked if a signed Donegal jersey could be arranged for auction upon his return to Dublin to aid families destroyed by the typhoon Haiyan. Eager to meet a legend, current Donegal footballers, Eamonn Mc Gee, Rory Kavanagh, Karl Lacey and Michael Murphy came to present the jersey to him in person.
 
Photo Details:
Back Row: Mr Kevin Moran, Consultant Surgeon and Urologist, Letterkenny General Hospital and Team Physician to Donegal Football; footballer Eamonn McGee; Mr Charles McManus, Director of Medical Education, Letterkenny General Hospital and Team Physician to the Donegal Football Team; and footballer Rory Kavanagh.
Front Row: Mr David Hickey, Consultant Urologist and Transplant Surgeon and Team Physician to Dublin Football; footballers Karl Lacey and Michael Murphy; Pat Shovelin, Manager Medical Records, Letterkenny General Hospital and goal keeping coach to Donegal Football.