Transplant Team Ireland told 'don't give up'
Don't believe naysayers who tell you you can't achieve what you want, was the basis of a pre-competition motivational talk given this morning to Transplant Team Ireland in Kilcullen Community Centre, by champion boxer Michael Carruth, writes Brian Byrne. The other key element was 'don't give up' after failure, or when everything seems to be against you.
The team members were present for the talk, in advance of the European Sports Championships which take place in Oxford, England, between 21-28 August.
The boxer (pictured above with his gold medal and James Nolan - click to hear a short clip) referenced both of his Olympic Games participations, in Seoul and in Barcelona, saying that the 1988 Korean event 'did not go well for me' when he was beaten by George Scott of Sweden. But he came back in 1992 in Spain when he defeated Cuban boxer Juan Hernandez Sierra in the final, taking home Ireland's first gold medal since that won by runner Ronnie Delaney at the 1956 Games in Melbourne ... in that final bout, Carruth won with two broken hands!
The team members were also briefed for their upcoming trip to England, and told that four of their 'transplant family' who had died during the pandemic were to be 'honorary team members' in Oxford, with team jerseys to be given afterwards to their families.
James Nolan of Kilcullen, a Transplant & Dialysis Games veteran of many years, provided useful details of the event location and travel facilities to and from the competition.
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