Team Ireland Launch Day: Transplant athletes are ‘ambassadors for Organ Donation’

Athletes from Transplant Sport Ireland were at Kilcullen Community Centre on Sunday July 16th for the launch of Team Ireland heading to the British Transplant & Dialysis Games which will run from 27-30 July in Coventry. The 34 athletes participating include 26 adults, 5 juniors and 3 living donors. The Irish team have athletes competing from Cavan, Cork, Dublin, Galway Kerry, Limerick, Louth, Mayo, Tipperary, Wexford and Wicklow and range from those with Heart, liver, double lung, bone marrow and kidney transplants led by Team Captain Harry Ward. It will be the biggest-ever Irish team to participate in the British games.

Kilcullen’s James Nolan (Kidney recipient, Founder of Punchestown Kidney Research Fund Charity Race founded in 1990 raising €1.6 million to date, & Award-winning Butcher) was the speaker for the gathering, where he recalled a childhood of doctors waiting rooms, hospital visits and diets because of his kidney problems before he was given ‘the gift of life’ with a living donor transplant from his sister Catherine. “To be asked to speak here is a privilege and an honour,” he said. “But it’s also a time for reflection on the journey I have been on. I wouldn’t be here but for what my sister did for me, 36 years ago in nine days’ time. And I just know how lucky I am.”

James also recounted some of the previous motivational speakers who had addressed Team Ireland in the past including Michael Carruth’s words last year of No excuses and Eamon Coughlan’s advice in 2010 with the mantra Over analysis leads to paralysis. James also told those present that they can go ‘with pride’ to Coventry representing their donor, their family, their county and Ireland. “At the end of the day, the purpose of the event is to showcase the success of organ donation, to show what people can do when they get a second chance of life. You have to be ambassadors for organ donor awareness, because you are so lucky to have achieved a second chance.”

Transplant Sport Ireland showcases the success of organ donation and transplantation whilst offering inspiration to those who are newly transplanted or newly diagnosed with organ failure. Team Ireland athletes, have one shared purpose – to highlight the success of Organ Donation. To keep up to date on Ireland’s progress, visit transplantsportireland.ie and their corresponding social media platforms. The Team have one simple request to everyone – to please consider carrying an Organ Donor Card and Have the conversation –

Say YES to Organ Donation.