Ireland was pipped for top position by Hungary in the medals table at the 6th European Transplant & Dialysis Games which finished in Dublin at the weekend.
With its best performance ever, Ireland secured the largest haul of medals overall at the Games with an impressive 116 medals including 40 gold, 35 silver and 41 bronze.
But the table is decided on gold medals, and Hungary finished in the top slot with 45 gold, 31 silver, and 33 bronze, making a total of 109 medals. Germany were third with 37 gold medals.
Good weather prevailed and large crowds attended this historic event which was held in Ireland for the first time ever. It is the largest organ donor awareness event to take place in Europe this year. The unique Games brought over 350 brave athletes from 24 European countries together to celebrate the ‘gift of life’.
Celebrating life will be the legacy of Ireland’s staging of the games.
Wonderful, heart-wrenching stories emerged throughout the week with athletes overcoming huge health hurdles to take part.
Ireland team captain, Mike Dwyer said: “We are very pleased to have retained our position in the top three on the medals table against the unstoppable Hungary and Germany.
“We finished third at the previous European Games in Wuzburg, Germany, in 2008. However, it’s not just about winning medals here — every athlete taking part is a winner.
“We were proud to be able to participate on home soil this year and demonstrate to our European friends the warm hospitality for which our country is renowned, and we are confident they will have fond memories of their time in Ireland.
Athletes who took part in the games have received a transplant of one, or a combination, of the following: Kidney, liver, heart, pancreas, lungs, and bone marrow, or else are receiving dialysis treatment.
The Games Village was located at DCU on Dublin’s northside, with various events taking place at different sporting venues on Dublin’s northside. Ireland had 71 athletes at the games, ranging in age from 18 to 72 with Kilkenny represent by Emma O’Sullivan, Ballyraggett; John Paul O’Neill, Castlecomer and Laima Chvedukiene, Inistioge.
