Team Ireland in Dresden: Family, Friendship, and the Gift of Life

Transplant Sport Ireland (TSI) arrived in Dresden with 50 athletes and supporters, ready to compete at the World Transplant Games 2025. The team, built on volunteer passion and athlete leadership, carried with it Ireland’s long tradition of sporting excellence and fair play.

🏅 Preparation and Pride

In the lead-up to Dresden, athletes trained monthly, travelling to venues across Ireland for sessions and meet-ups. Alongside Dresden, Team Ireland also participated in the British Transplant Games in Oxford, making it an exciting summer of sport for the Irish transplant community.

Special thanks went to James Nolan and the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund (PKRF) for once again sponsoring the official team kit.

👥 Leadership and Legacy

Team Manager Harry Ward, a kidney recipient since 2007, spoke with gratitude:

💚 “It was an honour to lead Team Ireland. Having lived through dialysis myself, I know how tough the journey is. My transplant gave me a second chance, and I think of my donor every day. TSI is like a family, we look out for each other, support each other, and most of all, celebrate the Gift of Life.”

Chairperson Trevor Lynch added:

💚 “Irish teams have consistently punched above our weight, bringing home medals but also respect for our spirit, fair play, and fun-loving nature. Our athletes give hope to those newly diagnosed and show the world what organ donation makes possible.”

🌟 Highlights Beyond the Competition

• Fundraiser: In June, kidney recipient Rob Merrigan and his friend John Lynch completed a remarkable 72-hole Golf Challenge across four countries, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Ireland, raising funds and awareness for TSI.

• Hall of Fame: Tony Gartland, Ireland’s first liver transplant recipient (1993) and a medal-winning race walker, was inducted into the WTGF 2025 Hall of Fame after competing in 12 World Games.

👟 The Team

Among the athletes representing Ireland in Dresden were: James Nolan, Sean Beirne, Harry Ward, Bryan Duignan, Sinead McGowan, Amanda O’Neill Coyne, Pat O’Sullivan, Mark Mulhall, Mike Keohane, John Moran, Trudy Hayes, Claire Dolan, Mairead O’Mahony, Pamela Cassidy, Tom O’Reilly, Sheila Gregan, Trevor Lynch, Victor Conroy, Marie O’Connor, Mick Dwyer, Ivan Kinahan, Laura McDowell, Peter O’Reilly, Hugh Nolan, Finbar O’Regan, Nick Heather, Teresa Smyth, and Robbie Merrigan.

💚 One Strong Message

For TSI, medals are only part of the story. Their mission remains clear: to inspire transplant recipients and dialysis patients to live active lives, to honour the generosity of donors, and to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation.

Their message to Ireland and the world was loud and clear:
👉 Have the Conversation, Say “YES” to Organ Donation.