Our second coffee morning of the year was held in the Seagoe Hotel Craigavon on April 8th. It was another successful event with many patients coming along for a chat, coffee and scone!!
Our next coffee morning will be at the Everglades Hotel Derry/LDerry on May 8th from 10am to 12:30pm.
On Sunday 23rd March, the RVH Liver Support Group, alongside transplant charities from across Northern Ireland, came together to celebrate the relaunch of the New Life Gardens at Botanic Gardens, Belfast, and Kiltonga Hall, Newtownards — two special spaces dedicated to honouring the incredible gift of organ and stem cell donation.
We were deeply honoured to be joined at both events by Denis & Martina Goggin, creators of the National Circle of Life Organ Donor Memorial in Salthill, Galway. Following the heartbreaking loss of their son Éamonn, who became an organ donor, Denis and Martina have continued to share his legacy through powerful symbols of remembrance:
🕯 The Candle of Remembrance which was gifted to Belfast city from Galway in 2016 is placed in herbaceous borders, Botanic Gardens
🪨 The NIKPA 25th Anniversary Stone (2017), located at Kiltonga, Newtownards
Both events featured an inspiring lineup of speakers. The Botanic event was hosted by committee member Sharon Millen, while the Kiltonga cermony was led by William Johnston (NIKPA, Renal Arts Group QUB).
We shared moments of reflection, gratitude, and celebration, hearing from transplant recipients, donor families, and advocates whose stories touched every heart in attendance. 🌟
These gardens are more than memorials — they are spaces of peace, gratitude, and hope. They remind us of the importance of organ donation and the need to share our wishes with loved ones.
We look forward to building even stronger connections between organ donation communities across the north and south of Ireland, united by compassion, remembrance, and the celebration of life 💚
Our best wishes go to @rogancanning as he prepares for his new role as the RVH fatty liver nurse specialist from Monday. His colleagues in Ward 6D laid on a sweet treat for him to mark his change of responsibilities.
Pictured is Chrissy Harbinson (left) who organised the recent darts competition and raised the fantastic amount of £1735 for the RVH Liver Support Group. Pictured (centre) is committee member Ashley Collins accepting the cheque along with Martina Woods (right) who sadly lost her husband Rory.
Our first coffee morning of 2025 took place in the Glenavon House Hotel, Cookstown on January 22nd. On this occasion it was hosted by Kay and Ashley and was, as is the norm now, well attended. Right now we have provisional dates for many more coffee mornings and we will publish these dates, when fully confirmed, at a later date.
The coffee morning project, which we started in 2024, has become a real success story and they are viewed as a real benefit to all liver patients. As said, we intend to build upon this success in 2025.
Group Chairman Jim Kilpatrick was delighted to join with Dr Neil McDougall and Dr Becca O’Kane at the first dedicated regional hepatology clinic in Altnagelvin Hospital today. We wish Becca well as she settles into her new role covering Hepatology and Gastroenterology services in the North West.
It was lovely meeting up with some of the local patients who we normally would only chat to and support when they come to the Royal in Belfast
A few days ago Jim and Arthur from the RVH Liver Support Group delivered some cheer to all of the patients in ward 6D with the help of Sister Carol Harper. Every year the charity, who help and support liver patients throughout N Ireland, visits the regional liver unit and gives a little gift bag to each and every patient who has to remain in hospital over Christmas. “Its something that we love doing every Christmastime” says Arthur!
Carol was given the gift on New Year’s Eve 2023 and is so appreciative of that day. We had a coffee with her and her family in the summer time and we mentioned that we give out Christmas gifts to all of the patients who have to remain in the liver unit over the Christmas period. She said ” let me think about something I can do to help”. Well, what a great idea and gift that Carol came up with . She bought Terrys chocolate oranges and knitted, yes knitted a little cover in the colours and shape of a Christmas pudding; a brown woollen bottom and a white top. She then finished this off by wrapping in Christmas paper and a red bow. You can see the finished result in the pictures opposite.
As said, we provide all of the patients in the ward a Christmas gift pack filled with goodies and if you have any ideas of what we could supply and would like to contribute that something special we would love to hear from you!!. Please email us at rvhlsg@gmail.com and put “Christmas gift idea” in the subject header line.
A Christmas mosaic class was held recently in Bangor for the Liver Support Group
The ladies made Christmas mosaic including robins , Christmas trees and Christmas bells .
A fun night was had by all including Christmas goodies of mulled wine , spiced apple juice , mince pies and chocolates and the sum of £330 was raised as a result. Well done to the ladies and thank you !!
Pictured is Steven O’Neill with RVHLSG Vice Chairman, Arthur Goan, who received a cheque for £3968.00 from a recent fundraising event in Dockers Club Belfast.
On behalf of the Liver Support Group we would like to say a big thank you to Steven and all of the O’Neill family as well as family relative, John McNaught for organising such a great event. We would also like to thank all of those who donated.