Silver medal for Longford native at World Transplant Games
Lanesboro native Tony Gavigan won a silver medal as Ireland’s transplant golfers produced an outstanding performance in Perth on Monday (April 17) at the World Transplant Games.
Transplant Team Ireland captured gold and silver in golf pairs while two more just missed out on bronze.
Cork duo, Pat O’Sullivan from Mallow and Hugh Nolan from Doneraile, each basked in golden medal glory with their gross score of 65 on the demanding par 70 Wembley Golf course.
The silver lining came from Dubliner Ron Grainger and Longford’s Tony Gavigan, as their performance secured them second place and another two medals for the team with a score of 79 in pairs Category 4 (handicap).
Tony previously represented Ireland at the 2007 World Transplant Games in Bangkok and in Malaga in 2017.
Ron said, “It came as a surprise to us, we played our best all day and had a wonderful game of golf with two South African Kidney recipients, so it was great to win the Silver medal.”
Tony, a retired Garda, who previously worked at Kells Garda Station, agreed with Ron’s summary, adding that they have been partners in Golf at previous World Games and have always gelled well. He also felt the weather helped, being the first game of golf, they have played in sunny weather for a while!
Now living in Navan, Co Meath, Tony also added his thanks to his son Elden who is living in Christchurch, New Zealand, who spent three weeks coaching him in golf.
He said “I felt very optimistic going into the competition thanks to his advice and coaching.” Tony, who underwent a kidney transplant in 1998, also acknowledged his gratitude to his kidney donor.
CAPTION: Lanesboro native Tony Gavigan Picture: Conor McCabe Photography
Tony has been actively involved in organ donor awareness since. He has been on The Late Late Show on two occasions and is regularly on local radio and in papers and local schools giving talks and fundraising for the Irish Kidney Association.
To find out more about the World Transplant Games visit www.worldtransplantgames.org and to find out more about members of Transplant Team Ireland and to follow their progress at the Games, you can follow the team blog; www.transplantteamireland.ie
Individuals who wish to support organ donation are encouraged to Share their Wishes with their family and keep the reminders of their decision available by carrying the organ donor card, permitting Code 115 to be included on their driver’s licence or having the ‘digital organ donor card’ App on their smartphone. Organ Donor Cards can be requested by visiting the IKA website www.ika.ie/get-a-donor-card or to your phone, phoning the Irish Kidney Association on 01 6205306 or Free text the word DONOR to 50050.