Disability Matters is a weekly radio programme from Blanchardstown Center for Independent Living, airing every Thursday on Phoenix 92.5FM. In our interviews, Patrick O’Donnell and John Comiskey speak with activists, experts, and people with lived experience on a wide range of disability-related topics — from healthcare and education to employment, access, and inclusion. These conversations amplify real voices, share practical insights, and highlight the issues that matter to the disability community in Ireland today.
This week on Disability Matters, we turn the spotlight on an organisation that’s at the heart of Dublin 15 — the Blanchardstown Centre for Independent Living (BCIL). Founded in 1994, BCIL is celebrating over three decades of helping people with disabilities live independently in their own homes and participate fully in their communities. What began […]
31 Years of Independent Living in Dublin 15: The Story of BCIL Read More »
On a recent episode of Disability Matters on 92.5 Phoenix FM, host John Comiskey welcomed Christina Hamilton, Educational Support Worker with Diabetes Ireland, for an in-depth conversation about living with diabetes — from the early signs to the supports available today. “My background is in diabetes nursing,” Christina explained. “Here at Diabetes Ireland, we work
More Than Blood Sugar: The Emotional and Other Sides of Living with Diabetes Read More »
On a recent episode of Disability Matters on 92.5 Phoenix FM, host John Comiskey welcomed Aisling Kennedy, Chief Operations Officer of Muscular Dystrophy Ireland (MDI), to discuss what muscular dystrophy really is, how it affects people across Ireland, and the vital work her organisation is doing to support individuals and families living with this rare
From Diagnosis to Daily Life: How Muscular Dystrophy Ireland Makes a Difference Read More »
On Disability Matters, host Patrick O’Donnell welcomed Victoria Spillane, Chief Operations Officer with Crohn’s & Colitis Ireland, to discuss World Stoma Day and the realities of living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A Growing Health Challenge “In recent years we’re seeing a real increase in people being diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease in Ireland,” Victoria
Breaking Barriers: Life with a Stoma and the Growing Challenge of IBD in Ireland Read More »
On Disability Matters this week, host John Comiskey spoke with Carmel Doyle, who is involved in a Trinity College Dublin study on children and young adults with intellectual disabilities, and who present with behaviours that challenge. Why this research is needed Doyle explained how her own professional background shaped her involvement: “I’m an intellectual disability
“Headway made my invisible disability visible – to me, to my family, and to others, and helped me stop looking back at what I lost, and start looking forward to what I can still achieve.” – Jason On this week’s Disability Matters on 92.5 Phoenix FM, we welcomed Ruth Lunnon from Headway Ireland and Jason,
Life After Brain Injury: How Headway Offers Hope and Support Read More »
On a recent episode of Disability Matters on 92.5 Phoenix FM, host Patrick O’Donnell welcomed Piers Richardson, Diversity and Education Officer with the Disability Federation of Ireland, to talk about Make Way Day 2025. This nationwide campaign, now in its eighth year, shines a spotlight on everyday obstacles that people with disabilities face — from
Make Way Day 2025: Clearing the Path for Inclusion Read More »
“Anyone who thinks vaping is harmless needs to look a little closer.” That’s how Professor Marcus Kennedy — Consultant Respiratory Physician at Cork University Hospital and President of the Irish Thoracic Society — begins his conversation with host Patrick O’Donnell on Disability Matters. Professor Kennedy joined the show to mark World Lung Day and to
On a recent episode of Disability Matters, host John Comiskey spoke with Naomi Fitzgibbon, Director of Nursing Services at the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA). The conversation offered a compassionate look at the realities of living with motor neurone disease (MND), the challenges of diagnosis, and the vital support available to patients and families
Supporting Every Step: Understanding Motor Neurone Disease with the IMNDA Read More »
“OCD is a disorder that causes intrusive, disturbing thoughts… thoughts that go completely against a person’s values. That’s what makes them so distressing,” — Fionnula McLiam, OCD Ireland On a recent episode of Disability Matters on 92.5 Phoenix FM, host John Comiskey spoke with Fionnula McLiam, clinical advisor with OCD Ireland, about obsessive compulsive disorder
The Doubting Disease: Shedding Light on OCD and Its Hidden Struggles Read More »
