While on route to Dublin on bank holiday Monday, I read this week’s health feature ‘Having that conversation’ in which Margaret Hawkins speaks with Ireland’s longest-surviving heart transplant recipient, Andy Kavanagh. I remember being quite young when I first heard about someone donating their organs and I was full of curiosity.
In an effort to increase organ donations, Minister for Health Simon Harris will soon introduce a new system that will presume consent for organ retrieval unless the deceased person, ‘opted out’ in advance of their death
I remember people saying that she had donated her eyes. In an effort to increase organ donations, Minister for Health Simon Harris will soon introduce a new system that will presume consent for organ retrieval unless the deceased person, ‘opted out’ in advance of their death. This will not remove the next-of-kin consultation and, if there is an objection, the donation would not proceed. This means effectively that the conversation still needs to be had despite this positive development. I got out my driver’s license. I did this to check that the numbers 115, which indicates that you signed up to be an organ donor were printed there as I was sure I had opted-in when I got my new license but I couldn’t really remember. They are. My husband Richie was driving so that conversation has now been had in our house.
Donating your organs is important and can save lives but the issue of succession whether that is forced through a tragedy or any other reason is also a difficult but vital conversation for families
Another difficult conversation was addressed by solicitor Aisling Meehan, when she spoke at the Embrace Farm Conference two weeks ago and that was about the importance of succession planning when someone dies unexpectedly. Donating your organs is important and can save lives but the issue of succession whether that is forced through a tragedy or any other reason is also a difficult but vital conversation for families. Aisling called out preparedness as the most important thing should the worst happen to a family. Some of the major pitfalls and stress that comes with that could be avoided by appropriate planning and by putting a succession plan in place. Seeking out good legal, agricultural and financial advice and accepting that it is never too early to write a will go a long way towards a fair outcome.
The purpose of this drive to Dublin was to attend the AgriAware Open Farm Day in Laurence and Denise Wards’ farm just outside Swords. I got to MC the cookery demonstrations with Gary O’Hanlon of TV fame and he put on a great show. My two girl’s big-city cousins also made the trip out with their parents and their Dublin granny and grandad.
India McKeever at the AgriAware Open Farm in Wards Farm Dublin
There was a fantastic family atmosphere to the whole day, the sun shone, the ice cream was on every face and there was a huge amount of activities to learn from. The purpose of course was to educate non-farming children about where their food comes from. These are difficult conversations to be had also. Our Irish Farmers Journal vet Tommy Heffernan was also there to MC the sheep shearing demonstrations and answer any veterinary questions.
Tommy Heffernan with Sean Corrigan on the sheep shearing demonstration stage at the AgriAware Open Farm day on Wards Farm Dublin.
We spoke afterwards and he said that he was somewhat surprised by some of the questions that came his way including, ‘Why do you separate the calves from the cows?’ The answer is logical to those involved in farming and the production system required to produce food – to protect the health of the calf and acquire a quality product, but it doesn’t make the conversation any easier. With the void between consumers and their food increasing, events such as this and having the conversation will become ever more important into the future.
Read more
Yes we are living longer but should we work longer too?
Farmers have to look after each other - Embrace Farm
While on route to Dublin on bank holiday Monday, I read this week’s health feature ‘Having that conversation’ in which Margaret Hawkins speaks with Ireland’s longest-surviving heart transplant recipient, Andy Kavanagh. I remember being quite young when I first heard about someone donating their organs and I was full of curiosity.
In an effort to increase organ donations, Minister for Health Simon Harris will soon introduce a new system that will presume consent for organ retrieval unless the deceased person, ‘opted out’ in advance of their death
I remember people saying that she had donated her eyes. In an effort to increase organ donations, Minister for Health Simon Harris will soon introduce a new system that will presume consent for organ retrieval unless the deceased person, ‘opted out’ in advance of their death. This will not remove the next-of-kin consultation and, if there is an objection, the donation would not proceed. This means effectively that the conversation still needs to be had despite this positive development. I got out my driver’s license. I did this to check that the numbers 115, which indicates that you signed up to be an organ donor were printed there as I was sure I had opted-in when I got my new license but I couldn’t really remember. They are. My husband Richie was driving so that conversation has now been had in our house.
Donating your organs is important and can save lives but the issue of succession whether that is forced through a tragedy or any other reason is also a difficult but vital conversation for families
Another difficult conversation was addressed by solicitor Aisling Meehan, when she spoke at the Embrace Farm Conference two weeks ago and that was about the importance of succession planning when someone dies unexpectedly. Donating your organs is important and can save lives but the issue of succession whether that is forced through a tragedy or any other reason is also a difficult but vital conversation for families. Aisling called out preparedness as the most important thing should the worst happen to a family. Some of the major pitfalls and stress that comes with that could be avoided by appropriate planning and by putting a succession plan in place. Seeking out good legal, agricultural and financial advice and accepting that it is never too early to write a will go a long way towards a fair outcome.
The purpose of this drive to Dublin was to attend the AgriAware Open Farm Day in Laurence and Denise Wards’ farm just outside Swords. I got to MC the cookery demonstrations with Gary O’Hanlon of TV fame and he put on a great show. My two girl’s big-city cousins also made the trip out with their parents and their Dublin granny and grandad.
India McKeever at the AgriAware Open Farm in Wards Farm Dublin
There was a fantastic family atmosphere to the whole day, the sun shone, the ice cream was on every face and there was a huge amount of activities to learn from. The purpose of course was to educate non-farming children about where their food comes from. These are difficult conversations to be had also. Our Irish Farmers Journal vet Tommy Heffernan was also there to MC the sheep shearing demonstrations and answer any veterinary questions.
Tommy Heffernan with Sean Corrigan on the sheep shearing demonstration stage at the AgriAware Open Farm day on Wards Farm Dublin.
We spoke afterwards and he said that he was somewhat surprised by some of the questions that came his way including, ‘Why do you separate the calves from the cows?’ The answer is logical to those involved in farming and the production system required to produce food – to protect the health of the calf and acquire a quality product, but it doesn’t make the conversation any easier. With the void between consumers and their food increasing, events such as this and having the conversation will become ever more important into the future.
Read more
Yes we are living longer but should we work longer too?
Farmers have to look after each other - Embrace Farm
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