Limerick members of Irish transplant team among medal winners

FORMER Munster and Ireland rugby player Richard Costello has secured his second medal at the European Transplant and Dialysis Sports Championships in Poland, adding to an impressive haul for the Irish team.

Mr Costello, owner of the Locke Bar in the city, secured a silver medal in the shot putt event this Thursday, his second medal win in Krakow after securing a bronze yesterday in the golf event.

“I am delighted. It was touch and go in the rain but I’m very satisfied with how I threw,” he said, after securing the shot putt medal.

Veteran transplant games participant John Loftus from Clarina was also among the medallists, winning gold in the 100m sprint with a time of 15.83 seconds - his fourth gold medal in European competition.

“I am delighted. My running training was going brilliantly till Saturday morning when I damaged my calf in U.L. but due to the efforts of a lot of people out here I got out there on the track and won my fourth European Championships Gold in the 100m sprint,” he said.

“A big thanks to my donor with whom I share this medal. The conditions were the worst I have ever competed in at the Games which makes it even better, I was wearing my “Johnny the Bullet T-shirt” which my son had made for me, I have never lost a race while wearing it!”

In all, some six Limerick people are representing Ireland in the competition, part of a 34 strong Transplant Team from these shores.

Mary Sheehan, from Parteen, 29 year old Thomas Doherty, from Bruff, Eoghan O’Neill, (31) a kidney transplant recipient from Newmarket on Fergus and now living in Limerick, Madeline Donaghy a kidney transplant recipient from Knocklong are all part of the team.

Ms Donaghy secured a bronze medal in the singles tennis competition, Mr O’Neill took gold in golf and Mr Doherty took a bronze in the bowling event.

Also travelling with the team is medical director, Dr Yvonne Ryan, a Limerick native, who has been on the panel since the Games were held in Dublin in 2010.

The Games events come to a close tomorrow and the team are due to return to Shannon airport on Sunday.