Marie O'Connor, a member of the Irish golf team for next week's Five Nations in Scotland

All ten have got new hearts, lungs, kidneys or livers, and view their involvement in transplant sports as “a celebration of life.”

The Irish team will take on golfers from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland at Dundonald from June 4-6^th. Last year, Ireland emerged victorious from the tournament in Northern Ireland, and are keen to stay top of the pile.

“This is a celebration of life for us,” said team captain Mick Dwyer, who underwent an operation to receive a new kidney ten years ago. He has since had a hip replaced, but his appetite for sport remains undiminished.

“Every time we pull on the Irish jersey, we think of our donors and how they have given us the gift of life.  We won this event last year, and want to win it again – although the main reason we take part is to promote organ donation.”

The full Irish team comprises: Hugo Boyce (Donegal), Garry Campbell (Wicklow), John Casey (Dublin), Frank Doyle (Wexford), Mick Dwyer (Dublin), Deirdre Faul (Dublin), Tony Gavigan (Meath), Eoin Hurley (Waterford), Marie O’Connor (Clare), and Philip Kavanagh (Wicklow).

This August, Ireland will host the European Transplant & Dialysis Games for the first time, when over 350 athletes will converge on Dublin. Details of these Games are contained on www.2010NewLife.com.

For an organ donor card, FREETEXT the word ‘DONOR’ to 50050.