Carlow-based athletes set to represent Ireland in European Transplant Games

Two inspiring Carlow-based men are set to take part in the European Transplant Games later this month.

Pat Savage, who lives in Leighlinbridge and Tomás Ó hAileagáin, who resides in Haymarket, will travel to Arnhem in the Netherlands for the major event, which takes place from June 21-27.

The European Transplant Games celebrate the power of organ donation and the extraordinary second chance at life that comes with it.

In total, 25 Irish athletes will take part in the Games, which will bring together more than 1,000 people from across Europe. This includes organ and stem cell transplant recipients, people undergoing dialysis, living donors, families and supporters.

Tomás Ó hAileagáin, originally from Wexford, is the only living donor representing Ireland at the event. Having already been a regular platelet donor, he joined the unrelated bone marrow registry through the Irish Blood Transfusion Service.

In 2020, he received a call that would change two lives.

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Speaking on this time, Mr Ó hAileagáin said, "I was matched with a transplant recipient and underwent a bone marrow donation procedure in St James's Hospital. The process was very straightforward and recovery was quick. Knowing it could make such a difference to someone else's life made it incredibly worthwhile."

He says he will never forget receiving a letter from the recipient five years later: “They told me they were well and had been able to watch their young children grow up. That really brought home the impact that donation can have."

Arnhem will be Tomás' first European Transplant Games and he is looking forward to helping spread awareness about organ and stem cell donation.

"I think it's a fantastic opportunity to highlight the importance of donation, the impact it has on people's lives and to show that recipients can continue to live healthy, active lives afterwards."

Tomás is particularly keen to dispel some of the myths surrounding bone marrow donation: " A lot of people think joining the bone marrow registry means a painful procedure with long-term effects. My experience was completely different. It was straightforward, recovery was quick and it was one of the most worthwhile things I've ever done."

As he prepares to represent Ireland, the Wexford man will have plenty of support from home, including his parents Andy and Joan, his three brothers, nephew Andrew and newly arrived niece Calla.

For Pat Savage, originally from Kilkenny and now living in Oldleighlin, this will be his first time competing at an international Transplant Games.

Married to Anne and a proud father of two, he works with Carlow County Council as Chief Technician across the Roads, Transportation and Corporate Departments.

Mr Savage’s transplant journey followed on from several years of serious kidney illness. He spent two years on dialysis, initially undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis before complications required a move to Haemodialysis. Life before his transplant revolved around treatment and illness.

"Pre-transplant, I was either receiving dialysis or feeling unwell. My wife held the fort while I was sick,” said the Kilkenny native.

Everything changed when a close friend made the extraordinary decision to become a living kidney donor. The transplant in 2021 transformed not only Pat's life but the lives of his entire family.

He said: "My donor completely changed my life. Organ donation is truly the gift of life. I can now be part of my children's activities, attend games, coach teams and simply be a normal dad again. Post-transplant, my wife got her life back too."

His older brother also received a kidney transplant in 2006 after both had developed Glomerulonephritis, a disease that caused their kidneys to fail.

Representing Ireland for the first time is a tremendous honour for Pat.

"I'll feel incredibly proud to represent my country at the Transplant Games. I'll also be proud to represent my living donor and his family for the gift of life he has given me. It all ties back to promoting organ donation and spreading awareness of its importance."

The father-of-two added: "Giving an organ is a selfless act that gives someone a second chance at life. Hopefully stories like ours can help people overcome some of the fear of the unknown around donation."

Away from training, he remains heavily involved in his local community, coaching athletics, hurling and soccer, while also enjoying music, current affairs and world politics.

His sporting inspiration comes from Kilkenny hurling legend TJ Reid and Pat's advice for anyone returning to activity after transplant is both practical and encouraging: "You don't have to train for marathons or win All-Irelands. Any form of exercise is important after transplant. There are clubs, sports partnerships and organisations that can help people of every ability level get started."

The Transplant Sport Ireland team will be led by Harry Ward from Baldoyle, Dublin, who received a kidney transplant in 2007 after spending more than three years on dialysis. Harry has been involved with the Irish transplant team since 2009, first as Team Captain and now as Team Manager with Transplant Sport Ireland (TSI).

TSI is the National Governing Body for transplant sport in Ireland and brings together transplant recipients, dialysis patients and living donors to participate in sport, fostering a community of resilience, inspiration and camaraderie.

For more information about Transplant Sport Ireland, membership details and updates from the Games, visit TransplantSportIreland.ie or email [email protected].

Best of luck!