Medals galore as transplant heroes return home

TWENTY-FOUR brave athletes arrived home last week from the 19th World Transplant Games in Durban, South Africa, with an impressive haul of 34 medals – 12 gold, 10 silver and 12 bronze.

The team, which included eight Dubliners – Brian Carney (Killester), Deirdre Faul (Dalkey), Peter Heffernan (Skerries), John Moran (Glasnevin), James Reynolds (Tallaght), Ms Dara McLaughlin (Lucan), Angela Sherlock (Walkinstown) and Harry Ward (Baldoyle) – was given a rapturous welcome from family, friends and supporters when they came through at Dublin Airport’s Terminal Two.

The Irish team, ranging in age from 12 to 68, were placed 14th overall on the medals table which involved participation by almost 1,000 organ transplant recipients from 50 countries.

Also in attendance at the airport to greet the team was Transplant Surgeon David Hickey from Beaumont Hospital, revered by many members of the team whose kidney transplants were carried out by him.

While temperatures were averaging in the comfortable mid-20s at the games, Transplant Team Ireland embraced the new culture surrounding them. Old friendships were rekindled and new ones made with transplant recipients from around the world.

Even those who didn’t secure medals, in the true spirit of the games, tried their best to represent their country and honour their organ donors for their precious gift of life.

Team Ireland Manager, Colin White, from Balbriggan, said:

“Our hosts put on a spectacular week that brought together inspiring people from all over the world to celebrate the gift of life through sport and demonstrate that organ donation and transplantation works.

?

Some members of the Irish team fared particularly well at the games. John Moran (54), from Glasnevin, Tony Gartland (50) from Carlow and teenager Andrew Duncan (15) from Tipperary, a newcomer to the team, secured the most medals winning four each.

The youngest member of the team, 12-year-old Oisin O’Gorman from Waterford, secured a Gold in Badminton and two Bronze medals in the Long Jump and Ball Throw events, age category 12-14 years.

Brian Carney, from Killester, a Team Ireland newcomer, took home three medals in the 30-39 age category; a silver in Golf pairs with teammate James Nolan, a silver in lawn bowls and a bronze in the golf singles event.

John Moran, who recently celebrated his 55th birthday, was greeted at the airport by his wife Angela and children as well as his older brother Frank who donated a kidney to him 28 years ago. Moran bagged an astounding three gold medals and one silver medal in cycling and track and field events. He secured his three gold medals for coming first in the 20km cycling event, 1500m race and 800m race and his silver was won at his first event, the 5km cycling time trial.

Other medal winners included Deirdre Faul, Dalkey, (Gold in Squash), Sinead McGowan, Galway (Silver in 400m race), Vienna White, Donegal (Silver in 3km Race Walk and Bronze in Shot Put) and Angela Sherlock, from Walkinstown (bronze in the Field Discus).

Tallaght native James Reynolds (26) took gold in the Lawn Bowls event and bronze in the Petanque event (18-29 category).

Skerries man Peter Heffernan also secured a silver medal at the games in the Swimming 50m Backstroke event.

For organ donor cards Freetext DONOR to 50050 of contact the Irish Kidney Association on locall 1890 543639 or log on to www.ika.ie You can now store your donor card details on your smart phone by downloading the free Organ Donor Ecard app.