The Irish Junior Transplant Team arrived triumphant back to Dublin Airport on Monday from the UK Transplant Games, amongst them Waterford teenager Eoin Hurley who won a gold medal in the Golf competition and a bronze in the 50m swimming freestyle event for his age category (14-15 years).

Fourteen year old Eoin, from Manor Lawn, was the team’s captain for the event. A member of Waterford Golf Club, he received a kidney transplant last November.

First year

This is the first year for a team from Ireland to be represented at the UK Games and the eight young Irish athletes, all kidney transplant recipients, ranging in age from 11 to 16, brought home an impressive 10-medal haul. The aim of the Games is to encourage transplant patients to regain fitness, showcase the benefits of organ transplantation and promote the ongoing need for organ donation and transplantation.

Temple Street

The Irish Kidney Association in partnership with the Children’s University Hospital, Temple Street, managed and coordinated the Junior team’s involvement at the Games which are organised by Transplant Sport UK. Team Manager, Colin White was assisted in the management and care of the Irish athletes by two representatives of Temple Street: Marie O’Connell, Advance Nurse Practitioner in the Renal Unit and Olive Kelly, Play Specialist.