A TOTAL of 29 athletes, including several Southsiders, will represent Ireland at the World Transplant Games in Malaga next week.
In a bid to showcase the importance of organ donation, members of Transplant Team Ireland travelled from the four corners of Ireland to a motivational talk by the Kilkenny All Star Hurling great, Michael Fennelly, ahead of the games that are running from June 25 to July 2.
The eight times All Ireland Senior title holder and three times Club Championship winner was nursing an Achilles injury when he shared his experience as a prolific player and lecturer in nutrition and coaching with an eager Transplant Team Ireland at ALSAA Sports Complex recently.
At the forthcoming World Transplant Games the 29 Irish competitors, including, nine women, and 19 supporters, will join others from over 50 countries in what will be the biggest gathering of transplant recipients this year.
Almost 1,000 competitors are registered to take part in events as diverse as athletics, badminton, swimming, ten pin bowling and darts, to name but a few.
Ranging in age from 30 to 79, Transplant Team Ireland includes fuve liver transplant recipients and 24 who have undergone kidney transplants.
One of the kidney transplant recipients is also poignantly the father of a deceased organ donor.
The Irish Kidney Association is responsible for coordinating and managing Transplant Team Ireland’s participation at European and World Transplant Games events.
Colin White, the National Projects Manager of the Irish Kidney Association is the Ireland Team Manager. He is also currently the Treasurer of the World Transplant Games Federation.
Colin said: “This year the World Transplant Games Federation is celebrating 30 years and we can be proud of the tradition that our team has in the competition.
“Our team is known for its sense of fair play as well as its sense of fun with both underpinned by a steely competitive edge. Our athletes are coming from across the country and their dedication and commitment is not only to their training, in practical terms, but they also fund the vast majority of the costs involved.”
Colin added: “This will be my seventh World Transplant Games as Ireland Team Manager and it continues to be a most humbling honour to be a part of such an inspiring group of people.
“I look forward to witnessing our four new team members experiencing their first Opening Ceremony, our regular members renewing friendships and sporting rivalries and the support that we will receive from family and friends via our team website www.transplantteamireland.ie.
“The realisation that all of the competitors at the games will be there because of the generosity of organ donors, and their families, is a wonderful reminder than there is a lot of good in society.”
Every athlete at the World Transplant Games will have already received a kidney, liver, heart, lung, pancreas or bone marrow transplant.
Angela Sherlock, Greenhills (kidney); Michael Dwyer, Cabinteely (kidney); Leonard Ryan, Tallaght, D 24 (kidney); and Deirdre Faul, Dalkey (liver) are all taking ppart.
The Irish team includes four newcomers. Although the main objective for team members is to embrace life and promote organ donation, some returning team members will also be contesting world titles.
Keen to build on their medal successes at the previous World Transplant Games in Argentina in 2015, Deirdre Faul, Kieran Murray, Tony Gartland and Peter Heffernan have being training hard in anticipation of the competition in Malaga.
Between them, the much smaller team of four won 13 medals including seven gold, four silver and two bronze medals in Argentina.
Athletes will compete in their respective age categories in badminton, cycling, darts, golf, petanque, squash, swimming, table tennis, ten pin bowling, tennis, mini-marathon, and track and field.
Your wishes to be an organ donor can be included on the new format driving licence which is represented by Code 115.
Kilkenny All Star Michael Fennelly with TTI members Mike Dwyer, Cabinteely, Deirdre Faul, Dalkey & Lenny Ryan, Tallaght
Kilkenny All Star Michael Fennelly with TTI members Mike Dwyer, Cabinteely, Deirdre Faul, Dalkey & Lenny Ryan, Tallaght Kilkenny All Star Michael Fennelly with TTI members Mike Dwyer, Cabinteely, Deirdre Faul, Dalkey & Lenny Ryan, Tallaght Kilkenny All Star Michael Fennelly with TTI members Mike Dwyer, Cabinteely, Deirdre Faul, Dalkey & Lenny Ryan, Tallaght Kilkenny All Star Michael Fennelly with TTI members Mike Dwyer, Cabinteely, Deirdre Faul, Dalkey & Lenny Ryan, Tallaght Kilkenny All Star Michael Fennelly with TTI members Mike Dwyer, Cabinteely, Deirdre Faul, Dalkey & Lenny Ryan, Tallaghtv Kilkenny All Star Michael Fennelly with TTI members Mike Dwyer, Cabinteely, Deirdre Faul, Dalkey & Lenny Ryan, Tallaght