President lauds transplant team

Kilcullen's James Nolan was one of the 23-strong Irish Transplant Team which participated in the World Transplant Games that was congratulated by President Mary McAleese this week.

The team brought home a total of 39 medals from the Games which were held in Bangkok last month. James won a bronze in the 400 metres.

President McAleese said the team had brought the issue of organ donation to a level of national prominence 'it never before had'.

"You have shown people that there can be a great life after getting a transplant," she said at a special reception in Arus an Uachtarain on Wednesday evening, adding that they had 'touched the lives' of more people that they realised.

The team will compete in the 2009 World Transplant Games in Australia, and Ireland will host the European Transplant and Dialysis Games in 2010.

Brian Byrne.

(From reporting by Liam Horan and Emer Gallagher, journalists who accompanied the team to the Games.)