Gregan represents Ireland in European Transplant Games

Nenagh’s Sheila Gregan along with fellow Transplant and dialysis athletes from around the country will participate in The European Transplant and Dialysis Games to be held in Oxford UK from Sunday August 21st to 28th.

The fourteen strong team will take part in the week long multi-sports competition amongst Heart, Lung, Liver, Kidney, Pancreas & Bone Marrow transplant recipients and kidney dialysis patients from over 25 countries.

The Irish team of eleven men and three women consist of 9 Kidney recipients, 2 Liver recipients, 1 Double Lung recipient and one on currently Dialysis

Sheila Gregan has undergone two kidney transplants – in 1986 and again in 2006. She has been participating in the Transplant Games since 2010 and has represented her country in four Europeans and four World games, successfully medalling in these.

Whilst she mainly competes in the discipline of Triathlon, this year at the ETDG 2022 in Oxford she will be focussing solely on the Swimming events, and is really looking forward to meeting her friends and teammates.

“I will be doing something that I love to compete in whilst promoting Organ Donation,” Sheila said.

As with all her Team Ireland colleagues, Sheila - by participating in these competitions - honours her donor and demonstrates that Organ Donation works thereby collectively sending out a wonderfully uplifting message about how life can be post-transplant.

Olympian Michael Carruth shared his advice with members of Transplant Team Ireland at their recent Team Kit Day. The event held in Kilcullen Community Centre, saw over 30 members of the team present to hear Carruth relive his journey to Olympic glory! It was inspirational to hear him speak of his passion, drive, and unrelenting ambition to win the Olympic medal, beginning when he was just seven years old.

His advice included 'don't give up' after failure, or when everything seems to be against you and repeated don't believe naysayers who tell you that you can't achieve what you want because he proved them wrong.

But what is really astonishing is that Carruth actually fought his 1992 Olympic final with two broken hands - defeating Cuban boxer Juan Hernandez Sierra and taking home Ireland's first gold medal since that won by runner Ronnie Delaney at the 1956 Games in Melbourne. It was a personal, intimate account of his challenges to the final and one that each athlete present could relate to - the need to believe in yourself, the necessity of good support around you and the driving passion to succeed.

Harry Ward – Team Captain - also fondly remembered members of Transplant Team Ireland who have passed away since the last Games and family members were present to accept a Team Jersey in honour of their loved ones. They were told that this was a loss for the whole 'transplant family' and it was poignantly noted that they were to be 'honorary team members' in Oxford.

To keep up to date on Team Ireland's progress, visit transplantsportireland.ie and their corresponding social media platforms linked from the website. 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.

The full Irish panel is as follows:

CLARE: Marie O’Connor, Lahinch (KIDNEY)

CORK: Mike Keohane, Rosscarbery (LIVER); Charlie Ryan, Cobh (LIVER); Amanda O’Neill Coyne (KIDNEY)

DUBLIN: Harry Ward, Baldoyle (KIDNEY); Ron Grainger, Castleknock (KIDNEY); Peter Heffernan, Skerries (KIDNEY); Michael Dwyer, Cabinteely (KIDNEY); John Moran, Glasnevin (KIDNEY)

GALWAY: Mike Gilligan (Dialysis Athlete)

KILDARE: James Nolan, Kilcullen (KIDNEY)

LIMERICK: Trevor Lynch (BONE MARROW)

TIPPERARY: Sheila Gregan, Nenagh (KIDNEY)

ROSCOMMON: Gordon Ryan, Boyle (DOUBLE LUNG)