Four Gold medals - Deirdre Faul

A major homecoming reception at Dublin Airport is planned for the members of the Irish team, hailed by team manager Colin White as “exceptional ambassadors for organ donation, and also for Ireland.” Messages of goodwill have poured into the team via their dedicated website TransplantTeamIreland.com.

The Games, held in Gold Coast, Australia, saw over 2,000 athletes compete in a wide range of sports over the past week. The key message of the Games, staged every second year, is the importance of organ donation. The 22 medals won placed Ireland eleventh out of 50 competing countries on the medals table.
“These athletes show that people who receive transplants can live a full and active life. The enthusiasm of all athletes at the Games is the best possible way of illustrating just how crucial it is that people carry organ donor card,” said Mr White.

Among the top performers at the Games was Deirdre Faul, Dalkey, Co. Dublin, who won four gold medals. “I have really enjoyed the Games, and to win four gold medals is just very special,” she said.
Clarina, Co. Limerick, man John Loftus, who completed a Usain Bolt-style double on the track by capturing gold in the 100m and 200m titles. He won the 100m title on Friday last, his 62nd birthday.
Vienna White, from Newmills, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, also won two gold medals in her first World Games, just a year after getting a kidney transplant.
There were gold medals too for Mick Dwyer, Cabinteely, Co. Dublin; Tony Gartland, Hacketstown, Co. Wicklow; Vienna White, Newmills, Letterkenny, Co. Dublin; and Philip Martin, Swords, Co. Dublin.

The team arrive into Dublin Airport on Tuesday – via Singapore, Frankfurt and London Heathrow – at 3.30pm.

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 other members of the team who participated in the Games were:
Paul Donohoe, Doogary, Co. Cavan; James Hannon, Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford; Linda Meyler, Athenry, Co. Galway; Paul Prendergast, Santry, Dublin; Charlie Ryan, Cobh, Co. Cork; and Harry Ward, Baldoyle, Dublin

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