Actor flew Cara Darmody (14) to Chicago to address event organised by his charity foundation
Disability activist Cara Darmody from Co Tipperary was flown to Chicago by Hollywood actor Colin Farrell to be a keynote speaker at an event by the Colin Farrell Foundation. Photograph: Mark Darmody/PAFourteen-year-old Cara Darmody was flown to Chicago to address an event organised by the Colin Farrell Foundation, an organisation which aims to support individuals and families living with intellectual disability.
She met the last three taoisigh to discuss disability services in Ireland and told Simon Harris at a meeting in June that the Government was “breaking the law” on its obligation to children with special needs.Paul Mescal on Saturday Night Live review: Gladiator II star skewers America’s bizarre views about Ireland Parents have voiced their frustration and upset at not being able to access crucial assessments of need, therapies and school places for their children. Protests have been held outside the Department of Education demanding school places be secured for children with special needs, who are forced out of routines that are vital for their education and wellbeing. Darmody said Farrell followed her campaign and flew her to Chicago to be the keynote speaker at the event organised by his foundation. During the address, she spoke about how tough it is for her family to secure support for her brothers from the Health Service Executive. “Right now in Ireland, it can take four to five years to be assessed with an intellectual disability, with little or no services on offer afterwards, even in our schools,” she said. “That delay causes permanent damage and once you turn 18 with an intellectual disability, you often have nowhere to go, again with no services on offer. “Ireland is in crisis in relation to disability services for people with intellectual disabilities. I have openly said that it’s a national disgrace, but more recently I’ve described it as an international embarrassment, and nobody ever disagrees with me. “My understanding is that the same lack of services, etc, is also here in America for over-18s. It is simply not good enough and it must be respectfully called out.”“He’s followed my campaign for quite some time and I was lucky to meet him again a few weeks ago, and I was in total shock when he asked me to be his keynote speaker, wow,” she said. “I’ve got to know him over the last few months and he’s just the most incredible guy ever. Now he wants to change the world for people with intellectual disabilities. I just can’t believe that he wants to be associated with me. “He flew me to Chicago and he’s treated me like royalty since we got here. I got to go to his private cocktail party, so that was amazing to dress up for that as well. It’s definitely better than being in school.” She added: “I told the 1,200 invited guests on the night of how I’ve obtained almost €17 million in government funding, to inspire them to reach for the stars like I do. “The Americans were really inspired by my courage and determination, and I think I’ve definitely inspired them to do way more and to really believe that they can do way more.“It was only a few weeks ago that I was sitting outside the Taoiseach’s department protesting in the lashing rain at 7am ... But I’ll have no problem doing that again if the next government doesn’t treat disability as a serious priority. The disability discrimination that I regularly talk about needs to be called out.”‘It is like losing an old family member’: Storm Darragh fells scores of rare trees at Co Wicklow botanic gardensMost Monday ferry services cancelled as storm damage at Holyhead hits sailings to and from DublinThree babies committed speeding offences, Garda system showsJordie Barrett shines as Leinster beat Bristol to get search for elusive fifth star under way
Please follow us on Google to support usIreland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ireland team announcement LIVE as Andy Farrell names squad for Fiji clashIreland boss Andy Farrell will name his squad for this weekend's clash against Fiji on Thursday afternoon.
Read more »
Andy Farrell offers opportunities against Fiji but stresses established Ireland player must also performTest debuts given to Gus McCarthy and Cormac Izuchukwu, a full Test debut to Sam Prendergast and a third Test start for Jamie Osborne
Read more »
Colin Farrell Joins Short Film 'Room Taken' as Executive ProducerActor Colin Farrell announced his role as Executive Producer for the Irish Oscar hopeful short film 'Room Taken'. Directed by TJ O'Grady-Peyton, the film stars Bríd Brennan and Gabriel Adewusi, and explores themes of human connection, asylum seeker challenges, and elderly loneliness.
Read more »
Emma Fogarty 'has goose bumps' thinking about marathon run with Colin FarrellThe Hollywood superstar ran the Dublin marathon, pushing Emma for the final 4km.
Read more »
Emma Fogarty and Colin Farrell Raise Almost €1 Million for Rare Skin ConditionCampaigner Emma Fogarty and actor Colin Farrell have succeeded in raising nearly €917,000 for sufferers of Epidermolysis Bullosa, a rare and painful skin condition. The pair aimed to raise €400,000 after Colin ran a marathon and pushed Emma in a wheelchair for the final 4km. Emma, 40, was born with severe EB, known as 'Butterfly Skin', and is Ireland's longest-living person with the most severe type of the condition.
Read more »
Disability rights campaigner thanks Colin Farrell for giving her voice in USCara Darmody, 14, was flown to Chicago to address an event organised by the Colin Farrell Foundation, an organisation which aims to support individuals and families living with intellectual disability
Read more »