Mayo's Matthew in the medals at European games

EIGHTEEN-year-old Matthew McNeive from Knock, the youngest member of Transplant Team Ireland, has won three medals at the European Transplant and Dialysis Sports Championships.

The Irish team returned home to a hero's welcome at Dublin airport after winning 69 medals between them.

Matthew added to their haul with a bronze medal in the 100m race as well as two bronze medals for being placed third in both the table tennis doubles and singles events.

Ireland’s 28-strong team were placed in fifth position on the medals table, with host country Finland, and a much larger team of 96 athletes, taking top position out of 24 competing countries.

Matthew was full of praise for his team-mates, commenting: “Straight away they made me feel welcome and treated me as a member of their family.”

The Irish Kidney Association is responsible for the coordination and organisation of Transplant Team Ireland’s participation in the championships.

For an organ donor card, Freetext the word DONOR to 50050 or visit www.ika.ie. It is also possible to download an organ donor card on smartphones by searching for ‘Donor ECard' at the iphone store or android market place. Your wishes to be an organ donor can also be included on the new format driving licence which is represented by Code 115.