Michael’s awareness campaign on stuttering

Last week was a very busy one for well-known Templemore man Michael Ryan.

A former town councillor and former Mayor of Templemore, Michael is currently employed at Centenary Templemore. A founding member of Stuttering Awareness and Mental Wellbeing Ireland, he embarked on an awareness campaign in Wicklow, Dublin and Cork as part of International Stuttering Awareness Day.

He was joined by a delegation of top Speech Professionals including representatives from the Universities of Tennessee and California, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the World Stuttering Network, who are based in Florida. The itinerary included visits to Áras an Uachtaráin, Farmleigh House, Cork City Hall, Munster Technological University Cork, Leinster House and the Mansion House in Dublin.

The group were given a reception by Wicklow County Council in recognition of the work carried out for children and adults by its members. Among the people who the group engaged with were the Mayors of Wicklow County Council, Bray Municipal District, Cork City and Dublin.

Last Wednesday, presentations were given to Oireachtas members at Leinster House along with private meetings with Government ministers. Michael met with many people over the few days to present his message on stuttering awareness, including former Kerry footballer and Government minister Jimmy Deenihan, RTÉ correspondent Brian O'Donovan, former Cork hurler Lorcain McLoughlin and Minister Eamon Ryan.

Michael would like to thank everyone who has supported him on his journey, including public representatives, and everyone whom he meets on a daily basis.