The Rock of Cashel is one of 34 structures nationwide that will “Go Red” on June 14th to help celebrate World Blood Donor Day which is celebrated on the 14th of June every year. This Saturday the Irish Blood Transfusion Service will join the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other Blood Services around the globe to celebrate and thank voluntary blood donors for their life-saving blood donations and to raise awareness of the constant need for blood donors.
In Ireland over 70,000 blood donors gave blood in the past 12 months. “It is only due to their generosity that we can meet and sustain the blood supply to our hospitals” according to IBTS Director of Donor Services and Logistics, Paul McKinney.
Donors will have the opportunity to make a donation next week when three days of clinics will be held at the Great National Hotel in Ballykisteen on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening between 4.50pm and the final appointment time starting at 8.10pm.
New donors welcome and appointments can be made by calling 1 800 222 111 – details about the pre screening process for new donors can be found on the website giveblood.ie
Clinics are also planned for 4 days at the Dome near Semple Stadium in Thurles between June 23rd and 26th.
The service faces ongoing challenges as it needs to collect 3,000 donations each week to maintain the national blood supply. Just 8% of Irish blood donors are O negative – this blood type is the universal donor blood group that is most useful to the service.
