Founding member, Jim Costello, RIP

The Board and Staff of Polio Survivors Ireland are saddened to announce the passing of founder member, Jim Costello, who died peacefully yesterday.

Jim was the last of our founder members, making an untold contribution to the development and success of our organisation.

Jim contracted polio at the age of 15 at a rugby match and spent a great deal of his life in an iron lung in Cherry Orchard Hospital. Regardless, he was instrumental in much of the work of the Post Polio Support Group (now Polio Survivors Ireland), the organisation he helped to found. With so many polio survivors developing Post Polio Syndrome, Jim and recognised that something must be done to support people who had polio and who were now, once again, in need of help.

Jim joined the Board from it’s inception and served on it for many years in various roles, including as Chair and Company Secretary. He remained a volunteer and continued to stay in contact with the staff and fellow polio survivors, always willing to be a sounding board and to promote the organisation in the media. In recognition of his work on behalf of polio survivors Jim was one of five Polio Heroes who was presented with a Louis Pasteur medal, during a major conference to celebrate World Polio Day, 24th October 2016, in Paris.

Jim’s story is featured in many media articles (see below) and in our republished ‘Polio & Us’ book. He was unique in his living memory of the iron lung.

Our thoughts are with Jim’s wife Delia and his extended family and friends at this sad time. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a ainm dílis.

For those seeking information on funeral arrangements or who wish to sign the book of condolences, please see www.rip.ie.

Media Articles:

Click here for Jim’s interview in an Irish Times article 2020

Click here for Jim’s piece in The Journal in 2016