Irish ranked in top three position after success at European Transplant & Dialysis Sports Championships

Tired yet victorious, 34 inspirational athletes returned home from Poland this weekend after their outstanding performance at the 8th European Transplant & Dialysis Sports Championships in Krakow.    With its impressive medals tally of 18 Gold, 18 Silver and 31 Bronze medals, Transplant Team Ireland was ranked in the top three position on the medals table, just behind Hungary which took first place and the host country Poland in second. The Team received a rapturous welcome home at Dublin airport from family and supporters festooned with flags and banners.

Transplant Team Ireland Manager Colin White, newly elected Secretary of the Presidential Committee of the European Transplant & Dialysis Sports Federation said, "It's fantastic to be placed in the top three on the medals table out of 24 countries. The Championships were very well organised by the Polish hosts. Each and every member of Transplant Team Ireland proved to be great ambassadors for organ donation both on and off the competitive field and each of them wore their Irish kit with pride and honour. The ten newcomers to Transplant Team Ireland this year are tremendous additions and we are delighted to now have them in our 'extended' family. Each team member worked hard in their sports events. They competed in heavy downpours of rain on Thursday, intense heat on Friday and it was very changeable the rest of the week.  When not competing, Transplant Team Ireland enjoyed the sites of Krakow taking in the old town and main square and tours to Auschwitz and the Wawel Cathedral. The team enjoyed reuniting with old friends from previous Games and making new friends with people who have shared similar life experiences. In true Irish form members of the team enjoyed having sing songs and partaking in the karaoke on campus."

This year, Transplant Team Ireland comprises 34 athletes including 25 men and 9 women ranging in age from 16 to 76 years with 29 transplant recipients (5 liver, 22 kidney, 1 combined Kidney and Pancreas, and 1 bone marrow transplant), as well as five people who are receiving dialysis treatment.

Colin White  explained, "Every performance at the Championships is worthy of note. Some highlights are the great performances by the newcomers including Sean Marshall (Kerry), Zimele Brown (Galway) and Kieran Murray (Donegal). Team regular, Sheila Gregan from Nenagh, took the Ladies Virtual Triathlon title to add it to the World title she won in Durban, South Africa, last year. Long time team member, Hugo Boyce, from Donegal celebrated his 65th birthday during the week of the Championships. 26 years since his kidney transplant, Hugo is a wonderful example of what can be achieved with the Gift of Life that is organ donation. Urologist and kidney transplant recipient Ron Grainger from Castleknock put in a fantastic performance in Golf when he was paired with one of his patients, James Nolan, also a kidney transplant recipient from Kilcullen and the duo bagged a Gold and Silver medal respectively."

At the Championships closing Gala Dinner, Team Ireland member John McAleer from Antrim, a former lecturer at the University of Ulster,  who participated in the 70+ age category, received special recognition for being the oldest athlete amongst the 500+ participants. John won a Silver medal in Golf last Wednesday for his nett score and said, "I was very happy to win the Silver medal which is thanks to my deceased kidney donor who gave me the gift of extended life. But I was also very happy to be with such a beautiful group of people. It's nice to enjoy the company of people who share a common bond and are either waiting for organs or have already received transplants. Poland is a beautiful place to visit and the Championships were well organised and the people are very friendly."

At the European Championships, athletes competed in badminton, tennis, cycling, darts, golf, petanque, swimming, table tennis, ten pin bowling, tennis, volleyball, mini-marathon, track and field and for the first time this year a biathlon event.

At the previous European Games which were held in Zagreb, Croatia in 2012, with a smaller team of 26, Ireland was also placed in third position on the medals table behind France and Slovenia after securing an impressive medals haul of 14 Gold, 15 Silver and 21 Bronze.

In 2016, the biennial European Transplant & Dialysis Sports Championships will be held in Vantaa, Helsinki, Finland. Next summer a contingent from Transplant Team Ireland will travel to Argentina to take part in the 20th World Transplant Games which will be held in Mar del Plata.

The Irish Kidney Association is responsible for the coordination and organisation of Transplant Team Ireland's participation in the European Transplant & Dialysis Sports Championships and World Transplant Games.

For more information on the European Transplant & Dialysis Sports Championships and the Irish athletes visit www.transplantteamireland.ie or the Games website www.etdsc2014krakow.pl

The full Irish panel is as follows:-

Antrim: John McAleer, Newtownabbey (oldest member of the team)

Cork: Mike Keohane, Clonakilty; Charlie Ryan, Cobh;

Clare: Eoghan O'Neill, Newmarket-on-Fergus; Mary Sheehan, Parteen;

Marie O'Connor, Lahinch

Donegal:  Hugo Boyce, Clonmany; Kieran Murray, Ramelton

Galway:  Linda Waters, Athenry; Zimele Brown, Athenry (native of New Orleans)

Kerry:  Sean Marshall, Tralee

Kildare: James Nolan, The Curragh.

Laois: Robbie Lyons  the Swan, via Athy.

Longford: James Hannon, Edgeworthstown

Offaly: Edward McAuliffe, Portarlington

Sligo: Bridie Nicholson, Sligo town.

Tipperary: Vincent Bradshaw, Cahir; Sheila Gregan, Nenagh; Orla Hogan, Nenagh

Andrew Duncan, Clonmel (youngest member of the team)

Westmeath: John Connell, Cape Town, South Africa, formerly from Mullingar

Wicklow: Philip Kavanagh, Arklow

Dublin: Ron Grainger, Castleknock, D.15; Harry Ward, Team Captain, Baldoyle, D.13; Paul Prendergast, Santry, D.9; Chikoyo White, Balbriggan; Peter Heffernan, Skerries;

James Reynolds, Tallaght, D.24; Michael Dwyer, Cabinteely; Deirdre Faul, Dalkey.

Limerick: Richard Costello, Limerick city; John Loftus, Clarina;

Thomas Doherty, Bruff; Madeleine Donaghy, Knockalong.

Team Doctor Yvonne Ryan from Ballyneety, Limerick

Team Manager, Colin White from Balbriggan, Dublin

For an organ donor card Freetext the word DONOR to 50050 or visit website www.ika.ie  It is also possible to download an organ donor card on smartphones by searching for 'Donor ECard'  at the iphone store or android market place. Your wishes to be an organ donor can also be included on the new format driving licence which is represented by Code 115.

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