Soccer Transplant Team Ireland are proudly promoting the importance of Organ Donation
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Annervile Awards Night 2025
On Saturday, January 25, 2025, the Talbot Hotel in Clonmel hosted the prestigious Annerville Awards, presented by the Tipperary United Sports Panel and sponsored by Bulmers. This annual event celebrates the outstanding achievements of Tipperary’s amateur athletes across a diverse range of sports.
Among the honorees were three distinguished members of Transplant Football Ireland (TFI): Paul Hackett, Pascal Kavanagh, and James Harney. They received the Special Achievement Award in recognition of their participation in the inaugural Transplant Football World Cup, held in Cervia, Italy, from September 8 to 14, 2024.
The Transplant Football World Cup brought together over 180 transplant recipients from around the globe, uniting heart, lung, liver, kidney, pancreas, and bone marrow recipients on the soccer field to celebrate their second chance at life. The event was organized by the World Transplant Games Federation and hosted in the picturesque seaside town of Cervia.
Paul Hackett, originally from Thurles and now residing in Dublin, expressed his gratitude upon receiving the award alongside his teammates. He emphasized the team’s mission:
“The sole purpose of the team is to get together with other transplant patients, play a sport we all love, and promote the importance of organ donation.”
Pascal Kavanagh and James Harney, both hailing from Clonmel, were also integral members of the Irish squad that competed in Italy. Their participation not only showcased their athletic abilities but also highlighted the life-saving impact of organ transplantation.
The Annerville Awards ceremony underscored the diversity of sports represented in Tipperary, with honorees spanning disciplines such as camogie, motorsport, rugby, pitch and putt, soccer, hockey, hurling, and kayaking. Derek Nolan, representing sponsors Bulmers, remarked on this diversity, stating that it “showed that there’s a sport for everybody.”
The recognition of Hackett, Kavanagh, and Harney serves as a testament to their dedication and the broader message of hope and awareness they promote through their involvement in transplant sports. Their achievements continue to inspire and highlight the critical importance of organ donation.
