The Irish team before leaving Dublin Airport earlier this week

The 19-strong team, ranging in age from 22 to 64, have travelled Down Under with 13 new kidneys, five new livers and one new kidney-pancreas.
“These athletes really are the bravest of the brave,” said team manager Colin White, “because they have come through very tough times in their lives, and still want to compete for Ireland in the World Transplant Games. It is life-affirming.”
All 50 teams, plus managers and coaches, will take part in the ceremony, where ten year-old transplant recipient Miriam Waldron, from Sydney, will read a special message of welcome.
‘Our Victory’, the official song of the 2009 Games, will also be performed in public for the first time.
“The team have settled in well here in Gold Coast. Their participation in these Games is their way of paying tribute to their donors, who gave them the gift of life,” said team captain Mick Dwyer.
The full Irish team is:
Paul Donohoe (Cavan); Michael Dwyer (captain, Dublin); Deirdre Faul (vice-captain, Dublin); Tony Gartland (Wicklow); James Hannon (Longford);  John Loftus (Limerick); Philip Martin (Dublin); Tom Metcalfe (Dublin); Linda Meyler (Galway); Catherine Murphy (Cork); James Nolan (Kildare); John Paul O’Neill (Kilkenny); Paul Prendergast (Dublin); Orla Hogan-Ryan (Tipperary); Charlie Ryan (Cork); Leonard Ryan (Dublin); Angela Sherlock (Dublin); Harry Ward (Dublin); and Vienna White (Donegal.)
The team is accompanied by manager Colin White; team doctor Emer Kilbride; physio Clare Hogan; and Mark Murphy, the CEO of the Irish Kidney Association.
A special website has been built – www.transplantteamireland.com – where supporters can follow the team’s progress. For an organ donor card FREETEXT the word ‘DONOR’ to 50050.