Conference 2025

Thank you to all our members who attended the Conference & AGM 2025, in the Green Isle Hotel last week. We had a wonderful turn out on the day, with lots of familiar faces and many new ones, coming together to discuss our work and simply catch up! 

We are very grateful to speaker, Matt McCann, of Access Earth, who delivered an excellent Joan Bradley Keynote Address, on the subject of accessibility, explaining how his personal journey has become a business to improve access to hotels, public spaces and commercial buildings. We hope to collaborate with Matt in the future.

Our Jim Costello Polio Hero Award was presented to Evelyn Wainwright, Cork Social Support Group Convenor, in thanks for her dedication to the organisation and to helping polio survivors. Evelyn’s family surprised her by arriving for the Award presentation. It’s safe to say there weren’t many dry eyes in the house at this point. 

We had lively Q&A sessions throughout the day. Our new CEO, Nicola, was welcomed and staff were introduced, including information about their roles. Later during the AGM, Macrina, Fintan, Miriam, Pat and Charlie were all thanked for their contributions as they each have stepped down, or completed their terms of office. 

Our Advocacy & Policy Officer, Siobhan Banville, spoke about the work we have been doing to advocate to government and the statutory services about the needs of polio survivors. Siobhan encourage people to get in touch with their TDs and Senators to ask them to attend the AV Room in Leinster House on the 21st October. A letter template for members to contact politicians can be obtained by contacting Siobhan (siobhan@polio.ie) or Emma (emma@polio.ie). 

Thank you to everyone who helped out, either in the run up, or on the day by volunteering their time to assist in some way. Your efforts are valued year after year. 

We will have more photos in the Survivor magazine at the end of November. 

For more information about Access Earth click here and to download the app mentioned by Matt McCann during his talk, click the relevant link below.

To install the app on Android click here.

To install the app on iPhone click here.