Rotary Club World Polio Day Celebration

To celebrate and mark this year’s World Polio Day, the Rotary Club, Dublin invited a speaker from Polio Survivors Ireland to their meeting in the Grand Canal Hotel, on Monday 23rd October.

The meeting was opened with a video message from Rotary International President Gordon McInally regarding Rotary’s EndPolioNow campaign. You can watch that by clicking here.

Before introducing our speaker, the late Nuala Harnett was mentioned by a fellow Rotarian. Nuala had been a member of this club and was fondly remembered as an active participant and wonderful contributor to their work. Just as Nuala is remembered by our own members, having been the driving force behind Polio & Us, the book she edited and helped produce in 2007.

Following a tasty lunch, our staff member, Emma Clarke Conway was invited to speak about the work of Polio Survivors Ireland and the challenges and issues faced by polio survivors. A show of hands demonstrated that nearly everyone in the room had known or knew a polio survivor. Following Emma’s talk, there were some interesting questions and recollections from the floor.

It was a lovely opportunity to celebrate World Polio Day with Rotarians and to remember past members and also to speak about the issues facing polio survivors now. We are very grateful to the Rotary Club Dublin for inviting us to be part of this day.

Pictured are Emma Clarke Conway, Polio Survivors Ireland and Rotary Club Dublin’s President Dr Delma Sweeney.