Kildare transplant athletes hailed by hurling legend Cody
James Nolan receives his cap for Lisbon
With two competitors from Kildare in the upcoming European Transplant & Dialysis Sports Championships, the county has a good representation among the 26-strong Team Ireland.
By coincidence, both Robbie England from Naas and veteran transplant athlete James Nolan from Kilcullen are living with kidneys that were donated by siblings.
Both men were among team members and their families who were all described as “inspirational” by Kilkenny hurling legend Brian Cody, who launched the official kit for the team at an event in Kilcullen.
James Nolan was the recipient of a kidney from his sister Catherine 35 years ago, while Robbie England's second chance at life was as recent as 2022 when his brother Mark donated one of his kidneys.
The two are among athletes travelling to Lisbon on Sunday 21 July who will take part in a variety of sports including athletics, badminton, 10-pin bowling, cycling, darts, golf, swimming, table tennis, tennis and petanque. Between them all, the team members are recipients of donated lungs, kidneys, livers, bone marrow, and hearts and also include one athlete who is on dialysis.
Referencing the medical challenges they each had faced in their lives, Brian Cody said it was just wonderful that when they had received a second chance at life, they would further challenge themselves in sport.
"To keep going, and to drive on, that's dedication, true grit," he told them as he handed each their team caps. "To me, spirit is everything, spirit within a group is making sure that everybody in the group feels a part of it. When there is spirit within a group, then the sky is the limit."
The Team Ireland members come from nine counties across the country, and the former champion hurler and trainer told them to enjoy every aspect of the European games, including this period leading up to it.
Giving everything you have, being the best you can be." Drawing on his own life experience in hurling as player and team management, he told his audience the same things that he had always advised his own team. "Don't think about what can go wrong, don't let the pressure stop you from playing. Just put your best foot forward and go out and compete. Be normal. Be yourselves. Let yourselves go with freedom."
The event in Kilcullen Community Centre was hosted by James Nolan, who is also founder of the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund (PKRF) which has raised over €1.9 million to date for kidney related projects.
The launch was organised by Transport Sport Ireland, a voluntary organisation that supports transplant and dialysis patients and encourages the leading of active lifestyles for them through sport.
National Advocacy & Projects Manager with the Irish Kidney Association Colin White told the that it was appropriate at events such as the kit launch that family and friends should come along and enjoy the occasion.
"They have been on the health journey with their loved ones, too," he said. He emphasised the importance of the sports programme within the organ donation area, as a way for those on dialysis and with transplants of maintaining their overall health.
"They are also an example to those others out there who may have been newly diagnosed, that there is a future. Instead of getting concerned about all the things they can't do, they see that it is a case of 'I can, I should and I will'. Also, for the donor families out there, this shows them that they made the right decision, they can see the impact of what they have done."
For Carol Moore, CEO of the Irish Kidney Association, involvement in sport by both athletes and their families make for very joyous occasions, adding that it was important that all involved have the opportunity to meet up with people in similar situations.
"These people have been through so much. They have faced death, and now for them to be competing for their country, parading behind the Irish flag, it's incredible, amazing. It's also a key part of increasing awareness of the value of organ donation, when they go to events like this, they tell their stories.
“They always thank their donors, because without them none of this would be happening. For the families, attending the games is life-changing, because they are meeting up with and talking to people who have been through similar situations. The research is showing that being part of this big 'family' has very positive therapeutic effects."
Robert McCutcheon, chairman of the Irish Heart and Lung Transplant Association, had a heart transplant 17 years ago and is a living example of how organ transplants save lives.
"Participation in sport after transplant is an affirmation that we can all live ordinary lives and it also gives us an opportunity to promote the 'Gift of Life'. In practical examples, in my own case I was able to bring my daughter up the aisle at her wedding, and we now have two grand daughters whom I would never have seen without my heart transplant."
The Lisbon event will have 500 competing athletes.
In addition to Brian Cody, those at the Kilcullen launch were addressed by James Nolan, team manager Harry Ward, and Trevor Lynch, Chairperson of Transplant Sport Ireland.
