Beautiful Italy is the destination for Mullingar’s Finian Farrell next week as he prepares to represent Ireland at the 10th European Transplant & Dialysis Sports Championships, Cagliari, Sardinia from 17-24 June.
Finian, who is well-known in the Mullingar community, is a 2-time kidney and transplant recipient (1989 & 2008) and is looking forward to competing in his second European Transplant Games. He will be competing in the 50-59 years age category in the following events: tennis (singles), darts (singles), pentanque doubles (partnering with Charlie Ryan), 10-pin bowling singles and 10-pin bowling mixed doubles (partnering with Chikoyo White).
Finian said he is honoured to represent his country once again.
“I am so delighted to be able to honour my donor’s memory. When I first travelled with the team in 2016 I was very wary of going away with people I didn’t know, but straight away I was made feel welcome. The team are like a second family now. Also, meeting other national competitors has been brilliant,” he remarked.
“I am looking forward to seeing the people I met in Finland again and making new friends. Also, if possible, I’d love to be coming home with a medal in honour of my donor.”
Finian encouraged everyone to pursue sporting activities and to enjoy life through being active and meeting new people.
“I would highly recommend this experience to anybody thinking of taking part,” he said.
Peter Canavan, one of the most decorated Gaelic footballers of all time, shared the wisdom of his sporting career in his motivational talk to members of the inspirational Transplant Team Ireland ahead of their departure for European Transplant & Dialysis Sports Championships. Members of the 24 strong team travelled from the length and breadth of Ireland to meet the retired Tyrone inter-county footballer, manager and pundit, at ALSAA sports complex, Dublin Airport recently.
“You are an inspiration to us all. Many of you are now fighting fit having faced huge health battles which many of you have overcome thanks to organ donation, while three of you, are still battling through organ failure and like the rest of the team imbue great personal inner strength and positivity by keeping active and engaging in competitive sport.
“I now encourage you to harness your positivity in your final preparations for competition and aim to be the best that you can be in your chosen sports. Be confident in your abilities when competing at the European Championships and show how much can be achieved by embracing life through sport,” Canavan told Finian and his Irish team colleagues.
