HUGH SECURES TWO GOLFING GOLD MEDALS AT WORLD TRANSPLANT GAMES
Golfers Hugh Nolan from Doneraile and Pat O’Sullivan from Mallow, who competed at the World Transplant Games in Perth, Australia have claimed gold in the Golf Pairs.
Competing on Monday, the golfers basked in the sunshine and their medal glory with their gross score of 65 on the demanding par 70 Wembley Golf course. This good news comes a day after fellow Corkonian, teammate Mairead O’Mahony, won gold in the 5km race event.
Mr O’Sullivan and Mr Nolan competed in Category 1 (the lowest handicap group of those registered) and they credited their win to being a good team, dovetailing between the two of them and helping each other out along the way.
Pat described the course as “hard enough, the greens were tricky”, but both he and Hugh were keen to credit their organ donors for being the reason they were able to compete – coincidentally, they were in hospital together after their kidney transplants.
They are both also grateful to Mallow Golf
Club and McKenna Golf Academy for their support, as well as their families and friends.
SECOND GOLD FOR HUGH
On Wednesday, Doneraile golfer, Hugh Nolan, then picked up a second gold medal while playing in 26 degree sunshine on the same golf course (Wembley). Hugh, who is a kidney transplant recipient who plays off scratch, secured the gold with his 33 points, scoring 1 over (71 shots) in golf singles.
The 47 year old, who had been receiving dialysis treatment for 9 years before being called for a transplant, was generous in his praise afterwards to all those who helped him achieve his goal.
“The course was very tricky today, it has tight tree lined fairways that punish any stray shots. I’d like to thank my nephew Eoghan for travelling to Australia to support me, and my playing partners including Nick and his family for their excellent support all day. I’d also like to thank my work colleagues for covering to allow me to make the trip. And of course, my kidney donor for making it all possible,” Mr Nolan said.
Locals Michael Kiely of Ballylanders, Mitchelstown is also among fourteen Irish transplant recipients who travelled to Perth last week to represent Ireland as the World Transplant Games commenced.
Ahead of their travels, messages of goodwill came in for the Irish team including words of encouragement from the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Australian Ambassador to Ireland Gary Gray, members of the medical profession including Clinical Lead Organ Donation Transplant Ireland Dr. Catherine Motherway, rugby sporting heroes, with lots more good wishes flowing in from the general public.
In a video message, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar congratulated Transplant Team Ireland whom he described as ‘inspiring’ for representing their country which ‘is a proud achievement’ for them and their families.
“The World Transplant Games are a true celebration of life and possibility, and your participation is a great example to all those who have received the gift of donation. Your participation in the games shows sincere dedication to fitness and a deep appreciation of the second chance of life that you have been given. It is also an important way of honouring the organ donor and their families who made that possible.
“Organ donation is among the most selfless acts we can bestow on one another and we have a duty to do everything we can to ensure that as many people benefit as possible. The government knows this and is committed to increasing organ donation and transplantation rates in
Ireland by making organ donation the norm. We have taken steps over the past few years to develop and improve transplant services in Ireland through extra dedicated funding,” the Taoiseach said.
The Taoiseach described how The Human Tissue Bill when transposed into law will “change the model for organ donation in Ireland” by introducing ‘Deemed Consent’ and expanding the pathways for living and altruistic organ donation, helping to substantially increase the donor pool in Ireland.
The Games, which commenced on April 15, will continue until Friday, April 21 with competitors ranging
in age from 36 to 75. Transplant Team Ireland’s current panel includes 10 inspirational men, three of which are local, and 4 women who have all received organ transplants including 2 liver, 2 bone marrow and 10 kidney. They are among 1,524 participants from 46 countries, all embracing their gift of life and honouring their donors in this celebration of life through sport.