IBTS blood donor awards ceremony in North East
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Front Row (from left): Brendan Kelly (100 time Donor), Briege Renaghan, Patricia O’Rourke, Louise Pickering, Gary Kinsella, Colm Lally. Back Row (from left): David McDonnell, Anthony Nelis, Ciaran McCabe, Kieran Gallagher, David Mackin, Eamon Hoey.Image 2 of 4
Front Row (from left): Sinead Harmon, Caroline Sheridan, Patricia O’Brien, Catherine Reid, Anne Marie Connolly, Cathy Kelly. Back Row (from left:) Ambrose Farrelly, Michael Byrne, Liam Burke, Seamus O’Shea, Daryl Coen, Christopher Shankey Smith, Brendan McGovern, Robert McKenna, Gerard Caffrey.Image 3 of 4
Back Row (from left): Iosif Korpas Area Manager, Sophie O’Kane Donor Attendant, Emma Clarke Donor Attendant, Catherine Hughes Clerical Officer, Noel Murphy Director of Finance IBTS. Middle Row (from left): Neville Cuthbert Driver Clerk, Idelle Hawkins HR Director IBTS, Orla O’Brien CEO, Veronica Fay Donor Attendant. Front Row (from left): Martina Nolan Donor Attendant, Anna Whyte Clerical Officer, Sonia Keenan Clinical Nurse Manager, Jennifer O’Kane Team Leader.Image 4 of 4
Charlie Gilbey, Emma Gilbey & Orla O’Brien CEO IBTThe Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) held its annual Gold Drop and Porcelain Pelican Awards Ceremony for the North-East/Midlands’s region on Friday 25th April, 2025 in the Ardboyne Hotel, Navan, Co Meath.
114 50-time donors received their Gold Drop and 22 100-time donors received their Porcelain Pelicans at the ceremony. Donors and their guests attended from counties Cavan, North County Dublin, Kildare, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Meath, Monaghan and Westmeath.
Iosif Korpas, Area Manager for the Ardee Centre was MC for the ceremony and welcomed everyone including Board Members of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service and congratulated all the Donors on their significant achievements. Chief Executive Officer Orla O’Brien thanked Donors from the bottom of her heart stating that donating 50 times is quite an achievement but donating 100 times is awe inspiring. In our presence on the night was father & son - 100 time donor John Egan (father) and 50-time donor his son, Conor Egan who between them donated 219 donations! Both living in Kildare - the room erupted in applause when they received their awards.
It was noted that the Ardee Centre hosted the highest number of 100-time Donor Awards to date. “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,” said the CEO who presented each of the 50 -time donors with their Gold Drop awards and the Porcelain Pelicans to the 100 Time Donors.
Mrs Emma Gilbey spoke on behalf of her family and thanked all the donors present from the bottom of her heart. Emma received blood before and throughout the four hours of emergency surgery that followed during the birth of her son Charlie. 13-year-old Charlie took to the podium & thanked Donors for saving his Mum’s life bringing the crowd to a standing ovation.
Iosif Korpas, Area Manager delivered the closing address. He thanked all the donors on their fantastic accomplishment of donating 50 and 100 times.
This requires significant dedication and they are truly inspiring. Iosif also thanked Emma for sharing her powerful story, reminding us all why blood donations are always required.