A big homecoming reception is expected on Tuesday next when the Irish team arrive home with 22 medals – and great memories – from the 17th World Transplant Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

The Irish team - heroes one and all

Although some members of the team are staying on in Australia to travel independently, the bulk of the team will arrive in Dublin Airport at 3.30pm on Tuesday.
The full details of the flights are as follows:

Monday, August 31st:
Depart Brisbane at 14.145 on Flight SQ236, arriving in Singapore at 20.50;
Depart Singapore at 23.50 on Flight SQ236;

Tuesday, September 1st:
Arrive Frankfurt 06.30;
Depart Frankfurt at 11.20 on Flight BA903; arriving in London Heathrow at 12.00;
Depart London Heathrow at 14.15 on Flight E1165; Arrive Dublin Airport at 15.30.

The 19-strong team, ranging in age from 22 to 64, travelled Down Under with 13 new kidneys, five new livers and one new kidney-pancreas.

 The medal breakdown is as follows:
Michael Dwyer, Cabinteely, Dublin
Golf (Net division) - Gold

Deirdre Faul, Dalkey, Co. Dublin
Squash (Singles) - Gold
Badminton (Singles) - Gold (see doubles medal below)
Golf (Net division) - Gold

Tony Gartland, Hackettstown, Co. Wicklow
5km Road Race - Silver
1500m - Silver
5km - Gold

Orla Hogan-Ryan, Summerhill, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary
3km Walk - Bronze

John Loftus, Clarina, Co. Limerick
100m  - Gold
200m - Gold
Ball-throw - Bronze

Philip Martin, Swords, Co. Dublin
100m Breaststroke - Silver
Golf (Net division) - Gold

Tom Metcalfe, Stepaside, Co. Dublin
100m - Silver

James Nolan, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare
400m - Bronze

Catherine Murphy, Aghabullogue, Co. Cork
3km Walk - Bronze
John Paul O'Neill, Clogh, Co. Kilkenny
Squash (Singles) - Silver

Leonard Ryan, Tallaght, Dublin
Lawn Bowls Singles - Bronze

Angela Sherlock, Lucan, Co. Dublin
Discus - Silver
Shot Putt - Silver

Vienna White, Newmills, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Badminton (Singles) - Gold (see doubles medal below)

Doubles:
Vienna White & Deirdre Faul
Badminton (Doubles) - Gold

The following athletes will be on this flight (the remainder are remaining on to travel independently in Australia): Mick Dwyer, Vienna White, Paul Donohoe, John Paul O’Neill, Tony Gartland, Orla Hogan-Ryan, Philip Martin, Linda Meyler, Charlie Ryan, Paul Prendergast. Plus team manager Colin White.

“Every day, the athletes remember their donors, and each performance, let alone victory, is a way of saying thank you to the donors who gave them the gift of life,” said team manager Colin White.
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.