Health - My Story

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#Health - My Story

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>St Vincent de Paul volunteer Janet Tynan’s choice of charity was inspired by her mother, while her father sparked her interest in volunteering. Picture: Noel Sweeney</p>

health and wellbeing

My work is a privilege, I reassure people that there is no shame in needing support

Being welcomed into the homes of those in need is a humbling experience for Janet Tynan, a Cork-based volunteer with St Vincent de Paul, and one that often puts her own concerns into perspective

<p>Lewis King, whose son Freddie died at 31 weeks’ gestation, pictured with a photograph of Freddie’s feet. Picture: Paul Molloy</p>

health and wellbeing

'I’m so sorry, there’s no heartbeat' — Fathers’ grief after baby loss needs to be acknowledged

<p> Cal Woods, volunteers with Age Action on the charity's Digital Literacy Programme in Drogheda Library. where he works with learners. Picture: Moya Nolan</p>

health and wellbeing

Tech literacy: A young man bringing older people up to speed

Workplace Wellbeing: How earning less can pay off with a better quality of life

health and wellbeing

Workplace Wellbeing: How earning less can pay off with a better quality of life

Australian woman hit great white shark with 'left hook' in bid to survive attack

world

Australian woman hit great white shark with 'left hook' in bid to survive attack

'Cancer doesn’t wait for your 50th birthday — it didn’t wait for my 40th'

health and wellbeing

'Cancer doesn’t wait for your 50th birthday — it didn’t wait for my 40th'

'I've got more out of volunteering than I've given. I've made lifelong friends'

'I've got more out of volunteering than I've given. I've made lifelong friends'

Irish Cancer Society volunteer Brenda Convoy says losing her sister to cancer and battling the disease herself inspired her to help others on their cancer journeys

Sun, 09 Aug, 2026

I tried six viral wellness trends — here's my verdict

I tried six viral wellness trends — here's my verdict

From fibremaxxing and elaborate skincare routines to lymph drainage and red-light therapy, there are a host of wellness trends doing the rounds online. But which are worthwhile and which should we scroll on by?

Fri, 07 Aug, 2026

I'm an obstetrician-gynaecologist — here are six tips worth knowing

I'm an obstetrician-gynaecologist — here are six tips worth knowing

Consultant obstetrician gynaecologist Breffini Anglim O’Regan, whose subspeciality is in urogynaecology and pelvic floor reconstructive surgery, The Coombe Hospital, Dublin

Sun, 02 Aug, 2026

I volunteer at a hospice: 'It's a place full of kindness and warmth'

I volunteer at a hospice: 'It's a place full of kindness and warmth'

Primary schoolteacher Sarah Kelly says it was the support and kindness shown to her family during her mother's final days that made her want to give back

Fri, 31 Jul, 2026

Working Life: Órla Mahony, senior staff nurse, Roscommon University Hospital

S Working Life: Órla Mahony, senior staff nurse, Roscommon University Hospital

'Being a nurse is one of life’s greatest privileges'

Fri, 31 Jul, 2026

'I’ll never be able to eat a packet of crisps again': Cork man on his tongue cancer diagnosis

'I’ll never be able to eat a packet of crisps again': Cork man on his tongue cancer diagnosis

A painful mouth sore led to a tongue cancer diagnosis for Tim Madden, who reminds people to visit their dentist regularly

Fri, 24 Jul, 2026

Majella O’Donnell on her treatment for depression and recent ADHD diagnosis

Majella O’Donnell on her treatment for depression and recent ADHD diagnosis

Majella O’Donnell is not afraid to speak out about her health challenges. After sharing her breast cancer journey in 2013, she is now opening up about her in-hospital treatment for depression, reflecting on a recent ADHD diagnosis and offering mental health advice to her Instagram followers

Fri, 10 Jul, 2026

Postnatal hubs offer new mums a bridge between hospital and home

Postnatal hubs offer new mums a bridge between hospital and home

New mums are finally getting the additional support they need with the rollout of postnatal hubs across the country

Fri, 10 Jul, 2026

I get a sense of pride from Be OK Garage — a group for car-loving men to talk about mental health

I get a sense of pride from Be OK Garage — a group for car-loving men to talk about mental health

Car enthusiast Dave Smith is helping men change gears and open up about their mental health at Be OK Garage

Fri, 12 Jun, 2026

‘I had bowel cancer at a young age and discovered an underlying genetic predisposition’

‘I had bowel cancer at a young age and discovered an underlying genetic predisposition’

Sinéad O’Reilly was a young mum of two when blood in the toilet led to a shock diagnosis and a stark choice

Fri, 05 Jun, 2026

'I held my baby for 59 minutes — I’m learning to live with the pain of her loss'

'I held my baby for 59 minutes — I’m learning to live with the pain of her loss'

Cork-based nurse Daniela Gomez was told her daughter would not survive outside the womb. She got to hold her baby for 59 minutes. The grief, she says, is like being on a rollercoaster

Fri, 29 May, 2026

I was diagnosed with MS at 18 — I’m glad we had children while I’m still able to walk and run

I was diagnosed with MS at 18 — I’m glad we had children while I’m still able to walk and run

Laura Barry was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis as a teenager and chose to have children sooner rather than later while her health was stable

Fri, 29 May, 2026

DES REDMOND

When I was diagnosed with testicular cancer at 30 it was taboo to talk about genitals

Des Redmond was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1981, when it was taboo to talk about genitals

Fri, 17 Apr, 2026

We grieved the life we thought our daughter would lead after cystic fibrosis diagnosis

We grieved the life we thought our daughter would lead after cystic fibrosis diagnosis

Hazel Keller, 4, has cystic fibrosis, and while the prognosis has improved, the lung condition is limiting. Her mother Joanne has mourned the life her daughter won’t have

Fri, 10 Apr, 2026

Kick-boxer Conor is clear-eyed and laser-focused on his stellar career

Kick-boxer Conor is clear-eyed and laser-focused on his stellar career

The Kildare man became a top fighter despite poor sight. Laser surgery means he no longer wears glasses or contacts in bouts

Fri, 06 Mar, 2026

Life with epilepsy: 'It looked like my daughter was having a stroke'

Life with epilepsy: 'It looked like my daughter was having a stroke'

Signs of epilepsy vary according to the condition, and it doesn’t always involve loss of consciousness or shaking of the limbs, as Aisling Allan discovered when her daughter had a seizure

Fri, 06 Feb, 2026

I gave up alcohol for a month — here's how it impacted my sleep, health, and more

I gave up alcohol for a month — here's how it impacted my sleep, health, and more

Jonathan deBurca Butler enjoys relaxing over a pint at his local. It’s a simple habit woven into the fabric of his life. So how did he fare when he quit alcohol for a month?

Fri, 06 Feb, 2026

Going the extra mile to help beat childhood cancer

Going the extra mile to help beat childhood cancer

When Aoife Lucey was 10, high-risk leukaemia turned her world upside down. Now, she’s running 10 half-marathons to help children facing cancer today

Fri, 06 Feb, 2026

I used a walking pad to walk 10,000 steps a day for a month — here’s what happened

I used a walking pad to walk 10,000 steps a day for a month — here’s what happened

It's been a long, rainy January and many people are turning to walking pads to keep their step count up. These can have many health benefits, as Denise O’Donoghue found out when she invested in a walking pad for her home office

Fri, 30 Jan, 2026

I'm a doctor in my 30s with a healthy lifestyle — I was surprised I have high cholesterol

I'm a doctor in my 30s with a healthy lifestyle — I was surprised I have high cholesterol

A healthy non-smoker in her mid-30s, Dr Aisling Farrell was surprised to learn she had elevated cholesterol levels. The result prompted her to review her lifestyle and make critical changes

Sun, 28 Dec, 2025

I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer at 37 — here are the signs I noticed

I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer at 37 — here are the signs I noticed

'I could not feel any lumps at all, and I think that’s quite important to note, because I had no symptoms, really except for that tenderness'

Fri, 10 Oct, 2025

'At 38, I was told that I needed to have a hysterectomy because they had found cancer'

'At 38, I was told that I needed to have a hysterectomy because they had found cancer'

Gráinne Culliton was devastated when she was told she had to undergo a hysterectomy for cervical cancer at 38. However, she went on to become a mum of two through surrogacy

Fri, 19 Sep, 2025

We ditched our desk jobs to spend more time in nature — here's why

We ditched our desk jobs to spend more time in nature — here's why

If you’ve ever dreamed of ditching the conventional working world in favour of something more bucolic, you’re not the only one

Sat, 06 Sep, 2025

'I thought I was having a heart attack — it was actually bowel cancer'

'I thought I was having a heart attack — it was actually bowel cancer'

Cork-based mother of two Natasha O’Byrne is undergoing chemotherapy, but that hasn’t stopped her from raising money for the charity that came to her aid

Mon, 25 Aug, 2025

How your menstrual cycle can impact your mental and physical health

How your menstrual cycle can impact your mental and physical health

While there is certainly evidence that sex hormones do positively (and negatively) impact women’s brains, the historical lack of women’s health research means there is a lot of catching up to do in this area

Mon, 25 Aug, 2025

How I'm giving myself the best possible chance to catch cancer early

How I'm giving myself the best possible chance to catch cancer early

Corkwoman Fiona Ryan decided to undergo testing for a faulty BRCA gene after her late sister — who was being treated for breast cancer — was found to be a carrier

Fri, 15 Aug, 2025

I noticed a lump in my throat while swallowing — it was cancer

I noticed a lump in my throat while swallowing — it was cancer

Business manager Mike Freeney enjoyed ultra running in his free time, but difficulty eating and keeping up with other runners led him to visit his GP and the start of tests, which revealed throat cancer

Sun, 27 Jul, 2025

My kids forced me to get my hearing checked — how right they were

My kids forced me to get my hearing checked — how right they were

Vickie Maye noticed a decline in her hearing in her late 20s after undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma. She decided to act when she could no longer rely on lip reading at social events, and her children were fed up with having to repeat themselves over and over

Fri, 25 Jul, 2025

‘My mom never knew she had dementia — it would have devastated her’

‘My mom never knew she had dementia — it would have devastated her’

Neuroscientist Sabina Brennan encourages caregivers to live in the moment and notice the happy experiences they share with their loved one

Fri, 18 Jul, 2025

'I spent years being ashamed of myself and not speaking about it': Opening up about men's health

'I spent years being ashamed of myself and not speaking about it': Opening up about men's health

Men have long been too shy or too macho to talk about their health, whether mental or physical, or even see a doctor, but that is starting to change.

Fri, 06 Jun, 2025

Irish rowing champion Aoife Willis: 'The possibility of being diabetic never came into my head'

Irish rowing champion Aoife Willis: 'The possibility of being diabetic never came into my head'

Up to 300,000 people are living with diabetes in Ireland. According to recent research, many believe there is stigma associated with their condition

Fri, 30 May, 2025

Happy multiethnic young womens talking while sitting on park bench on summer day outdoors, Panorama. Group of girls talking and

I’m not the only one to have experienced a friendship breakup

Close pals are an important part of our lives and can even improve our health, but staying in touch requires work, writes Sharon Ní Chonchúir

Sun, 25 May, 2025

What a day

Do wellness interventions actually make employees feel better?

Ahead of introducing a workplace wellness initiative or programme, employers need to diagnose the root problem, similar to how a doctor will ask a patient what is wrong before recommending a course of action

Fri, 24 Jan, 2025

I worked out every morning before work for three weeks - here's what happened

I worked out every morning before work for three weeks - here's what happened

Early joggers and gym goers have become a bit of a trend but is waking up and exercising at the crack of dawn really all it’s cracked up to be?

Mon, 06 Jan, 2025

Zac Ward 29/10/2024

Zac Ward: I tend to overthink things, especially with rugby

Irish rugby union player says his biggest fear is letting his family down, or spiders

Mon, 11 Nov, 2024

Author Daragh Fleming on ADHD: 'It's just a way to describe how my brain works'

Author Daragh Fleming on ADHD: 'It's just a way to describe how my brain works'

Author Daragh Fleming’s recent neurodivergence diagnosis has helped him understand his difficulty with completing tasks and making decisions

Fri, 08 Nov, 2024

Side view of woman wearing a headscarf

Three women on why they said no to breast reconstruction after mastectomy

Most women who undergo a mastectomy opt for breast reconstruction. However, some prefer to avoid the risks associated with extensive surgery and stay flat. We speak to three women who made this choice

Fri, 25 Oct, 2024

'I’ve come to terms with the fertility issues of premature menopause'

'I’ve come to terms with the fertility issues of premature menopause'

Diagnosed with early menopause at 27, Niamh Connellan has accepted she needs donor eggs if she wants to conceive. The biggest challenge she faces is constant pain and tiredness

Fri, 18 Oct, 2024

Act4Food: How the youth can transform global food inequity

Act4Food: How the youth can transform global food inequity

Sophie Healy-Thow, who was recently awarded a prestigious Global Citizen Prize for her work in poverty and food security, is coming to Galway’s Food on the Edge

Fri, 11 Oct, 2024