Kilcullen butcher and kidney transplant recipient to take part in European Transplant & Dialysis Sports Championship this weekend

By Kim O'Leary

As many Irish people gear up to take part in the annual Transplant & Dialysis Sports Championship which is set to take place in Sardinia this weekend, a well-known businessman from Kilcullen is set to represent Co Kildare.

James Nolan runs Nolans Butchers of Kilcullen and he is also a Kidney transplant recipient (1987) and he will be competing in the following sports in the 50-59 years age category:

Golf Singles
Track & Field – 400m
Track & Field – 4 x 400m Relay
Track & Field – 800m
Track & Field – 200m

This will be James’ 14th time to participate with Team Ireland. Speaking ahead of the Championship, James said: “I spent the first 20 years of my life dealing with kidney problems and all that goes with it. This included a year on dialysis before I was lucky to receive a life-saving kidney transplant from my sister, Catherine, on 25th July 1987. Fortunately, since the transplant – both Catherine and I have continued to enjoy very good health.”

Meanwhile, James met his wife Emma at a PKRF Organ Donor Awareness Charity Ball and they now have a beautiful son called Andrew James, who is 5 years old. James is a Butcher by trade and is the 4th generation to run his family business Nolan Butchers of Kilcullen.

He said: “One of the many benefits open to transplant recipients is that you are eligible to participate in Transplant Sports once you return to good health. The Transplant Games encourages me to get fit to compete in my selected sports. Being part of Transplant Team Ireland offers the amazing opportunity to represent Ireland, travel to different parts of the world, meet your peers with inspirational stories and make friends for life. It also inspires me to remain as fit as possible in order to compete to the best of my ability at my selected sports which are Athletics & Golf. Being part of Transplant Team Ireland enables me to set personal targets and motivates me to stay fit and healthy – both mentally as well as physically. I find the people on dialysis incredibly inspirational and a reminder of just how lucky I am.”

James will join 23 other members of Transplant Team Ireland in Cagliari, Sardinia this weekend to compete in the 10th European Transplant & Dialysis Sports Championships which take place from 17th - 24th June.

The current panel of Transplant Team Ireland comprises 24 athletes, 10 women and 14 men, ranging in age from 31 to 80, and includes 5 liver transplant recipients, 16 kidney transplant recipients and three dialysis patients including two women who underwent combined kidney/pancreas transplants but, while they await another kidney transplant, their pancreas transplants are still functioning.

Indeed, what James is most looking forward to as he prepares to compete in the Championship is spending time with other Irish people who have received transplants and to also make new friends.

“I simply want to go with my transplant and dialysis ‘family’ and ENJOY the whole Games experience, make new friends, meet old friends, meet inspirational people who have overcome massive obstacles in their lives – and again just to enjoy the experience with the Irish team. As a Team, we are totally united and incredibly aware as to just how grateful the Transplant Athletes are to all the Donor Families for giving us a second chance in Life. Transplant Team Ireland would simply say Thank You to all the Donor Families,” said James.

The Irish participants are expected to arrive in Sardinia on Sunday, 17 June with the first events to get underway on Monday 18 June.

For more information and all of the events happening over the next few days, check out https://transplantteamireland.wordpress.com/