2015 Press Releases

Bressie leads inclusion conference

11 Feb 2015
'Breaking down Barriers' features Niall Breslin (Bressie), student Joanne O'Riordan ('No Limbs, No Limits') and Oisín Jordan (FAI) (Photo: Tomas Tyner)

A sold out student-led conference today (Wednesday 11 February) will focus on the need to break down the barriers of disability. It will also be live streamed from 7pm here.

'Breaking down Barriers' features Niall Breslin (Bressie) as keynote speaker. UCC Criminology student Joanne O'Riordan ('No Limbs, No Limits') and Oisín Jordan (FAI) will also contribute, with all three discussing their opinions and experiences of working and living with disability.

This event is being hosted by UCC Students' Union as part of UCC Disability Awareness Week.

The event will examine inclusion in all elements of society. It will discuss how we can tackle the barriers of disability and allow everyone to enjoy life and reach their full potential, regardless of ability.

Joanne will speak about her amazing journey and how, despite being one of only seven people worldwide with Tetra-amelia syndrome, she has never allowed her disability to hold her back and continues to set her sights even higher while at UCC.

Speaking in advance of the event, Joanne said, “As a first year student and a Quercus scholar I am delighted to be involved in organising and speaking in this wonderful event for sports, inclusion and disability awareness. These are issues very close to my heart and I hope that in the four years I’m here we can make a big change in UCC and hopefully pave the way for incoming fellow students.”

Oisín is currently the lead for inclusion, disability and sport for the FAI. He will discuss how he has enabled people with disabilities to engage in sports, through his work over 12 years with the Special Olympics and the FAI.

The keynote speaker for the evening is Bressie, who has inspired the nation to discuss mental health. Since opening up about his own mental health issues, Bressie has been an advocate for raising awareness and supporting those facing their own mental health issues. He will continue the theme of 'Breaking Down Barriers', sharing his own journey and talking about how the stigma around to these issues needs to be broken down.

Commenting ahead of the event, Mark Stanton, UCC Students’ Union President, said: “There is a huge level of excitement for this event and we are delighted to welcome Bressie to UCC. The event will be a fantastic insight into both hidden and visible disabilities, how people live with them and what society can do to be more inclusive.”

University College Cork

Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh

College Road, Cork T12 K8AF

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