The father of two, who had a kidney transplant over eight years ago, will travel to Würzburg to compete at the European Transplant and Dialysis Games.

“This will be my fifth games between European and World Games,” said Michael, whose hip replacement last summer forced him out of last year’s World Games in Bangkok. Michael scooped two medals at the World Transplant Games in Canada in 2005 for badminton and darts.

“I missed out on the World Games last summer but I will be back with a bang this year,” he joked.
The 52-year-old will compete in badminton and golf at the 5th European Games that aim to highlight the importance of organ donation and promote the idea of healthy living through sport.

Michael, who is married to Bernie, unexpectedly discovered he would need a kidney transplant after a routine health check.

“The doctor discovered I had high cholesterol. I went for a blood test and ultrasound and they basically told me that both my kidneys were kaput,” said the pharmaceutical worker.

“It came as a huge shock. I wasn’t sick at all before and I had always been fit and had played Gaelic football and hurling, and when I got older I played five-a-side.

“My wife and my two girls, Georgina and Barbara, were a great help and they never let me get down. My attitude is to get up and get on with it.”
Michael received the gift of a transplant in March 2000 after undergoing dialysis for nine months. “It can be a rough ride but dialysis patients try to encourage each other and we always stay in touch.”

“There are a fair few new faces going to Germany and there will be 25 on the team. There is a good mixture of competitors,” said Michael.

“The Games are always good fun and we try to emphasise the fun element. When you get into competition mode it can be easy to forget to enjoy the experience.
Above all everybody really appreciates the donor families and we don’t forget them.”

An annual mass for the donor families and the transplant patients that began three years ago has made a huge difference. “People who have lost loved ones such as sons or daughters or grandchildren find it very comforting,” he said.

Michael’s wife Bernie will travel to the Games with him and his daughters Georgina and Barbara,  and Barbara’s two children, two-year-old Darina and eight-week-old Michael, will cheer on the athlete from home.

“Hopefully I will give a good account of myself over there. I am in good health since and luckily I have had no setbacks. The fact that I am able to compete is what it is all about. A medal is just a bonus,” added Michael.

Ireland will host the 6th European Transplant and Dialysis Games in 2010.

Log onto www.transplantteamireland.com to follow the team’s progress. For Organ Donor Cards freetext the word DONOR to 50050 or visit the Irish Kidney Association website www.ika.ie.