As a young man growing up with a physical disability I became accustomed to the words “you can’t do this, you won’t be able to do that”. When you hear those words often enough you begin to question your own ability. However as I matured, I gained resilience and have worked over the last ten years to prove my own ability and the ability of all people with disabilities. I graduated with a Masters in Marketing from Limerick Institute of Technology and have worked since then in the area of administration and finance.  I am currently living and working in Shannon Town.

My real passion however lies in advocacy.  I am a member of Clare Leader Forum, which is an independent group of people with disabilities who work to create a voice on disability issues in Clare. I have helped the Forum grow from strength to strength and with this support the Clare Leader Forum has now become one of the key cross-disability representative groups in Clare. I am a Secretariat member of Clare Public Participation Network representing social inclusion on the Physical Development Strategic Policy Committee for Clare County Council.

At a national level I have also continued to promote the rights of people with disabilities through my work with the Center for Independent Living and more specifically through my role on the Value for Money (Transforming Lives) committee. I am on the national board of the Irish Wheelchair Association

I am passionate about ensuring that the voices of all people who need support to participate fully in society are heard and are part of policy and decision-making at local, national and European level. I look forward to the continuing growth of the Clare Public Participation Network as an organisation truly representative of the people of County Clare.