Epilepsy Ireland is an Irish charity that provides support, information and advice to people with epilepsy. Founded in 1966, the organisation is based in Dublin, with nine regional offices throughout Ireland.[1]
 The current logo, in use since 2013 | |
| Formation | 4 October 1966 |
|---|---|
| Founded at | Royal College of Physicians |
| Type | CLG |
| Registration no. | 77588 |
| Location | |
Membership (1980) | 2,500 |
| Website | epilepsy |
Formerly called |
|
History
The organisation was founded as the Irish Epilepsy Association on 4 October 1966 following an inaugural meeting held in the Royal College of Physicians on Kildare Street, Dublin among various physicians including Dr. John Bergin (Stewarts Hospital), Mr. George Burden (secretary general for the International Bureau for Epilepsy and general secretary for the British Epilepsy Association), Dr. Peter Fahy (consultant psychiatrist for the student health service of University College Dublin) and Professor Patrick A. McNally (associate professor of Medicine at the Royal College of Physicians and senior physician at Mercer's Hospital) who presided over the meeting.[2][3][4][5]
On 30 October 1967, a seminar was opened by the then Minister for Health, Seán Flanagan in the Intercontinental Hotel in Dublin. It was organised by the charity and was attended by more than 400 doctors, social workers and employers.[6] The minister emphasised the importance of early diagnosis and educating the general public about the condition.[7]
As of March 1980, there were about 2,500 members and the registered address was at Dawson Street.[8] The charity was registered as a company on 16 September 1980 as Brainwave - The Irish Epilepsy Association and is recorded on the charity register as the official name of the organisation.[9][10] On 7 February 2013, the organisation was rebranded as Epilepsy Ireland.[11]
Current board members
- Chairperson: Cathy Grieve
- Secretary: Clare O'Dea
- Treasurer: Paul Kehoe
- Helen Behan
- Paul Fahey
- Mary Fitzsimons
- Ambrose Kealy
- Dr Anne Kilroy
- Prof Mary King
- Nicola Saarsteiner
- Mark Curran
- Aaron Chalke
- Nicola Nagle
- Anne Maguire
A former board member of Brainwave, the predecessor to Epilepsy Ireland, was the late Joe Doyle. A life-long epileptic, he was also the first leader of a council in Ireland to have epilepsy.
- Patron: Rick O'Shea
Ongoing campaigns
- Free travel for those with epilepsy - Resolved
- Reasonable accommodations for those who suffer seizures during state examinations - Resolved
- Amendments to Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill to address those with Photosensitive Epilepsy - Resolved
- Advocacy for new anti-epileptic drugs including CBD to help prevent seizures, Epidyolex and Cenobamat
- Campaign for historical inquiry for those patients or families affected by Sodium Valporate (Epilim)
- SAFE: Time, Safe, Stay
- Purple Day, Rose Week, International Epilepsy Day and Brain Awareness Week
References
External links
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