(left to right) Liam Duffy, Kilkelly, Regina Hennelly, Manulla, and Darren Cawley, Westport - members of the Irish Team which will compete at the European Transplant and Dialysis Games in Dublin from August 8th-5th. It is Irelands first time to host the games which will see over 350 athletes from 24 countries converge on Dublin. For more info go to www.2010NewLife.com. Pic Justin Mac Innes/Mac Innes Photography Pic Justin Mac Innes/Mac Innes photography

Eamonn Coghlan paid tribute to a group of 70 brave Irish transplant and dialysis athletes who will wear the green singlet at a major European Games in Dublin next month. Ireland is hosting the European Transplant & Dialysis Games for the first time in 2010. Over 350 athletes from 24 European countries will converge on Dublin to celebrate 'The Gift of Life'.
"Everyone's a winner in these Games," athletics legend Eamonn Coghlan told the Irish athletes at a special motivational talk at the ALSAA complex in Dublin on Sunday 25 July. Every athlete at the Games will either be on dialysis, or have already received kidney, liver, heart, lungs, pancreas or bone marrow transplants.

Members of the Irish Team which will compete at the European Transplant and Dialysis Games in Dublin from August 8th-5th. It is Irelands first time to host the games which will see over 350 athletes from 24 countries converge on Dublin. For more info go to www.2010NewLife.com. Pic Justin Mac Innes/Mac Innes Photography

"You have all fought huge personal battles to just get to the starting-line for these Games. You have displayed not only your love of sport, but your love of life, and you are an inspiration to all of us," said Coghlan.
The 70-strong team will form Ireland's biggest-ever representation at these Games, as team manager Colin White explained that "hosting the Games in Dublin means so much to so many people who are facing organ failure, are on dialysis or have transplants."
He added: "We are delighted with the numbers of athletes who will take part in Irish colours. These Games are all about taking part, celebrating good health and life, and creating some fabulous memories."

Regina Henelly, from Manulla, Co Mayo, member of the Irish Team which will compete at the European Transplant and Dialysis Games in Dublin from August 8th-5th. It is Irelands first time to host the games which will see over 350 athletes from 24 countries converge on Dublin. For more info go to www.2010NewLife.com. Pic Justin Mac Innes/Mac Innes Photography.

Liam Duffy, Kilkelly, Co Mayoa member of the Irish Team which will compete at the European Transplant and Dialysis Games in Dublin from August 8th-5th. It is Irelands first time to host the games which will see over 350 athletes from 24 countries converge on Dublin. For more info go to www.2010NewLife.com. Justin Mac Innes/Mac Innes Photography.

Darren Cawley, Westport, Co Mayo, a member of the Irish Team whihc will compete at the European Transplant and Dialysis Games in Dublin from August 8th-a5th. It is Irelands first time to host the games which will see over 350 athletes from 24 countries converge on Dublin. For more info go to www.2010NewLife.com. Justin Mac Innes/Mac Innes Photography.

The athletes come from all over Ireland and range in age from 18 to 72 and for many of them this will be their first time competing at this level.
"We honour our donors by showing that organ transplantation works. That's a vital message to promote as the need for a life-saving organ transplant can visit a family with devastating speed, and at any age, even babies and children," said team captain Mick Dwyer, who eleven years ago had a kidney transplant. It will be his seventh Games at either European or World level.
"The Games show the benefits, both physical and psychological, that people on dialysis gain by participating in regular sport and exercise".
The Irish team is made up of athletes from Antrim (1), Cavan (3), Clare (2), Cork (5), Dublin (21), Galway (5), Kerry (2), Kildare (3), Kilkenny (3), Leitrim (1), Limerick (1), Longford (1), Louth (1), Mayo (3), Meath (3), Monaghan (1), Roscommon (3), Sligo (1), Tipperary (3), Wexford (3), and Wicklow (4).
The competing countries are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
Athletes will compete in badminton, cycling, darts, track & field, golf, mini-marathon, petanque, swimming, table tennis, ten pin bowling, tennis, and volleyball.

The full Irish team is as follows:
Antrim (1) - John McAleer, Whiteabbey;
Cavan (3) - Eamonn Malone, Cavan town; Paul Donohoe, Doogary, Rose Anne Dalton, Mullahoran;
Clare (2) - Jennifer Tuohy, Scariff; Marie O'Connor, Lahinch;
Cork (5) - Anne-Marie Lankester, Ballinascarthy; Catherine Murphy, Aghabullogue; Charlie Ryan, Cobh; Mike Keohane, Rosscarbery; Valerie Twomey, Crosshaven;
Dublin (21) - Angela Sherlock, Walkinstown; Anne Smyth, Baldoyle; Barry Delves, Loughshinny; Ben Gaughran, Skerries; Chikoyo White, Balbriggan; Deirdre Faul, Dalkey; Harry Ward, Baldoyle; James Reynolds, Tallaght; John Moran, Glasnevin; John Traynor, Clondalkin; Leonard Ryan, Tallaght; Liam Dunne, Terenure; Mark Fitzsimons, Dublin 12; Michael Dwyer, Cabinteely; Owen Kelleher, Lucan; Paul Bryan, Templeogue; Paul Prendergast, Santry; Peter Heffernan, Skerries; Philip Martin, Swords; Sandra Doyle, Whitehall; Thomas Metcalfe, Stepaside;
Galway (5) - Declan O'Doherty, Loughrea; Enda Ansbro, Cortoon; Eoin Madden, Athenry; Linda Meyler, Athenry; Michael Lydon, Moycullen;
Kerry (2) - Colm Clifford, Milltown; Con Brosnan, Killarney;
Kildare (3) - Elaine Maguire, Athy; James Nolan, Kilcullen; Sonia Treacy, Newbridge;
Kilkenny (3) - Emma O'Sullivan, Ballyraggett; John Paul O'Neill, Castlecomer; Laima Chvedukiene, Inistioge;
Leitrim (1) - Cathriona Charles, Mohill;
Limerick (1) - John Loftus, Clarina;
Longford (1) - James Hannon,
Louth (1) - Gareth McBride, Drogheda;
Mayo (3) - Darren Cawley, Westport; Liam Duffy, Kilkelly; Regina Hennelly, Manulla;
Meath (3) - John Casey, Enfield; Rachel Eagleton, Bettystown; Tony Gavigan, Navan;
Monaghan (1) - Johns George, Carrickmacross;
Roscommon (3) - John Henry, Boyle, Monica Finn, Roscommon town; Pat Hegarty, Ballintubber;
Sligo (1) - Bridie Nicholson, Sligo town;
Tipperary (3) - Edward Crowe, Carrick-on-Suir; Orla Ryan, Nenagh; Sheila Gregan, Nenagh;
Wexford (3) - Brenda Cullen, Ballyduff; Edward Kehoe, Castlebridge; Joseph Kent, Castlebridge;
Wicklow (4) - Garrett Campbell, Greystones; Philip Kavanagh, Arklow; Seamus Eager, Kilcoole; Tony Gartland, Hacketstown;
Medical Director of the Games will be Dr Yvonne Ryan from Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, and the Chief Physio will be Clare Hogan, Cork.
Mark Murphy, the CEO of the Irish Kidney Association, and Colin White are both members of the European Transplant & Dialysis Games governing body.
A special website has been built - www.2010newlife.com - where supporters can follow the Games and send messages of support. The site and will carry daily updates and reports.
For an organ donor card FREETEXT the word 'DONOR' to 50050.

European Transplant & Dialysis Games
These are the 6th European Transplant & Dialysis Games. They take place from August 8th-15th in Dublin.
Over 350 athletes from 24 countries will take part
Athletes taking part will have received a transplant of one, or a combination, of the following: kidney, liver, heart, pancreas, lungs, and bone marrow, or else will be receiving dialysis treatment
The European Transplant & Dialysis Games take place every second year. At the 2008 Games, in Wurzburg, Germany, the Irish team finished third on the medals table from 24 competing countries. Ireland brought home a total of 42 medals.

Follow the progress of The Mayo Athletes at the Games.