The tally of 42 medals placed Ireland in the medals table at the Games which featured almost 400 athletes from 24 countries, and the carnival will move onto Ireland in 2010 when Dublin hosts the Games for the first time.

Family and friends turned out to greet the team after they landed at Dublin Airport, and manager Colin White paid tribute to all the athletes: “To finish third in the medals table is fantastic – but even if we didn’t win a medal, all of these athletes are champions.”

He added: “Three members of the team – Darren Cawley, Peter Heffernan and my own wife Chikoyo – are all on dialysis, and had to make arrangements to receive dialysis in Wurzburg. Yet they competed wholeheartedly and all three won medals.

“The other 20 members have received transplants – be it kidney, liver, pancreas, or heart – and they all know what it is like to lie with serious illness. However, they have come through that and remain positive people who love to participate in sport, and to spread the message of organ donation.

“Every one of them thanks their donors every day. Once again, we say to members of the public – carry an organ donor card. Don’t bring your organs to heaven, because heaven knows we need them down here.”

As the medals tally rose, supporters posted messages of congratulations on the team’s website – www.TransplantTeamIreland.com.

 “The great thing about these Games is that the athletes don’t just put themselves to the test, they also honour their donors and the families of their donors,” said team captain Mick Dwyer, who won medals in golf and badminton.

“It will be a huge honour for Ireland to host these Games in 2010, and we hope to have the biggest Irish team ever. Anyone on dialysis, or who has received a transplant, is welcome to join the team and benefit for the camaraderie of enjoying sport with people who have been through similar life experiences.”

The full squad is: Hugo Boyce (Donegal), John Cormican (Roscommon), Paul Donohoe, Rose Dalton, Eamon Malone (Cavan), Rachel Eagleton (Meath), James Hannon (Longford), John Loftus (Limerick), Deirdre Faul, Harry Ward, Chikoyo White, Sandra Doyle, Peter Heffernan, Mick Dwyer, (Dublin), Daniel McCarthy, Joseph Burke, Charlie Ryan, Valerie Twomey, Catherine Murphy (Cork), Bridie Nicholson (Sligo), James Nolan (Kildare), Marie O’Connor (Clare), and Darren Cawley (Mayo).

Members of the public can receive an organ donor card free by texting the word ‘DONOR’ to 50050.