Loving tributes paid following the untimely passing of a local hero

Loving tributes have been pouring out over the past few days after the untimely passing of popular Nenagh woman, Orla Hogan Ryan.

Orla was a well-known face around Nenagh and a well-liked member of various local activity groups and clubs around the town.

Orla was someone who unfortunately had a tough time of it when it came to her health but despite the many adversities life threw her way, she was rarely seen without a smile on her face.

She had her first kidney transplant at age 9, donated to her by her mother and received three further transplants with the final kidney donated by her brother Cathal, which saw her through the rest of her life.

Orla went through a number of harrowing illnesses including peritonitis, lymphoma and an amputated leg but even through all the tough times in her life, Orla still somehow managed to turn it all into something positive.

Orla started competing in the transplant games on dialysis 20 years ago this year. Notably, in 2016 she secured two silver medals in swimming at the European Transplant and Dialysis championships in Finland.

In 2018, she travelled with fellow Nenagh athlete Sheila Gregan to the Championships in Sardinia and took home three medals including a silver medal in swimming.

Orla travelled to many different countries over the years as a transplant athlete and was described by her fellow athletes as having brought “a fantastic energy and witty humour to the team which was appreciated by not only Team Ireland but competitors from other countries, games officials and volunteers.”

Not only was she an active sportsperson, Orla was also a great activist for the transplant community and raised huge amounts of money over the years as the secretary of the Irish Kidney Association in Tipperary.

Tributes to Orla have been paid on RIP.ie with one person saying “Orla was a great friend, a wonderful person who always had a smile on her face and her laugh was infectious, she will be greatly missed.”

Another said “She fought a long battle with ill health but never complained or gave up. She was such a caring, selfless and heroic person.

“Orla was so loved by her family and wide circle of friends and was very special to us all. She will be greatly missed.”

Orla leaves behind her loving husband Ger, her parents Seamus and Nora, her siblings Pádraig, Mairead , Niamh, Cathal and Maire and a wide circle of loving family and friends.

She was laid to rest in her local Lisboney Cemetery in Nenagh last Saturday August 9.