Joanne O’Riordan is finished being a fresher

First year at college can take lots of getting used to after the familiarity of school and living with mum and dad. So imagine if you were disability campaigner, Joanne O’Riordan? Ailin Quinlan caught up with her to see how she found life at UCC.

SHE’S no budgeting wonder-kind, she admits, but in her first year of college, Joanne O’Riordan managed not to end up living on pot-noodles.

And, in the best student tradition, she conscientiously brought her dirty laundry home to Mum, managed to make it to most of her lectures — and somehow had a bit of spare change left in the kitty by Friday.