In our latest Disability Matters episode, John Comiskey speaks with Emma Clarke Conway, Operations Manager at Polio Survivors Ireland, and Mick Keegan, who shares his personal journey from childhood polio to living with post-polio syndrome. This insightful conversation explores the history of polio in Ireland, the long-term challenges survivors face, and the vital supports offered by the organisation. A must-listen for anyone interested in health, disability rights, and community support.
Understanding Polio: A Disease That Shaped a Generation
Emma begins by outlining what polio is — a highly contagious viral disease that once caused widespread fear in Ireland, particularly during the 1940s and 1950s. Although many people infected experienced only mild or flu-like symptoms, others woke up unable to move, breathe, or stand. For thousands of children, it meant long periods in hospital, painful rehabilitation, and, in the most severe cases, reliance on devices such as the iron lung.
While polio has now been eradicated in Ireland thanks to vaccination, Emma notes that the disease remains endemic in parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan. She emphasises the importance of maintaining strong vaccination rates to prevent any possibility of its return.
Life After Polio: The Hidden Impact of Post-Polio Syndrome
For many survivors, the story did not end with recovery in childhood. Emma explains that decades later, survivors began to experience new and unexplained symptoms — muscle weakness, chronic pain, mobility difficulties, swallowing issues, and extreme intolerance to cold. This cluster of symptoms is now recognised by the World Health Organization as post-polio syndrome.
“It’s like being hit twice,” Emma says. “People fought so hard to rebuild their lives as children, only to face a second wave of disability in adulthood.”
These late effects can have a profound impact on independence and quality of life. For some, it means returning to mobility aids or wheelchairs after many years, or losing the physical strength they have relied on throughout their careers and family lives.
Mick Keegan’s Story: Living With the Effects of Polio
Mick Keegan, who contracted polio at just seven months old, shares his personal journey with remarkable honesty. He spent three and a half years in hospital as a child, undergoing intense physiotherapy and even spending time in an iron lung. Growing up, he refused to let his disability stop him — playing sports, boxing, and later working — but the long-term consequences of the disease were never far away.
In his 40s, Mick began to experience new symptoms: severe pain, muscle collapse, breathlessness, and declining mobility. After years of searching for answers, he was finally diagnosed with late effects of polio. Today, he uses a wheelchair outside the home and continues to advocate for better pain management and access to specialist services.
The intolerance to cold remains one of his greatest challenges. “A few minutes in the cold,” Mick says, “and I can’t get the heat back into my legs or my hands — it feels like fire.”
Despite this, he continues to support others as the National Coordinator for Polio Survivors Ireland’s telephone support service.
How Polio Survivors Ireland Helps
Emma outlines the wide range of supports the organisation provides, all tailored to the needs of survivors:
- Listening and emotional support — offering understanding, validation, and information.
- Social support groups — connecting survivors across the country.
- Peer telephone support — led by volunteers like Mick.
- Mobility equipment assistance — including calipers, braces, wheelchairs, stairlifts, and rise-and-recline chairs.
- Specialist therapies — occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and counselling.
- A winter heating grant — vital for those who cannot tolerate cold.
- Advocacy — raising issues at national level, including pension and disability payment inequalities that affect older survivors.
Emma stresses that while the staff team is small, the organisation works nationally and supports anyone who needs them. Waiting lists for equipment, specialist consultations, or custom footwear can vary dramatically by region, making their role even more important.
A Message for Anyone Who Needs Support
Polio Survivors Ireland encourages anyone affected — whether by childhood polio or later-onset symptoms — to reach out.
Phone: 01 889 8920
Website: polio.ie
“You don’t have to manage these challenges alone,” Emma says. “We understand — and we’re here to help.”
This interview aired on Disability Matters with John Comiskey on 92.5 Phoenix FM, a programme produced by Blanchardstown Centre for Independent Living (BCIL).
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