Disabled boy’s screen debut ‘an example to others’

A TEENAGER with muscular dystrophy who makes his screen debut tomorrow has been hailed as an example to others with a disability.

Joseph Barry, 13, from Conna in Co Cork, stars in The House, a new TV drama which will be premiered on the Dublin City Community Channel and which will run for six weeks.

“I’ve acted before in school plays and I’ve performed in Scór but this is my first time on TV,” Joseph said yesterday.

“I got a letter from Muscular Dystrophy Ireland saying there was a group of people making a TV show who were looking for someone in a wheelchair.

“I did the audition and got the part. It was very exciting and really fun, meeting new people.”

The House follows the stories of four diverse characters whose interweaving plotlines involve murder, computer fraud, dodgy bankers, newspaper ethics — all offset by a dose of comic drama.

Joseph plays Marky, the friend of the main character’s daughter. He stars alongside Killinaskully’s Jack Walsh and Senator Eoghan Harris, who plays a newspaper editor with anger management issues.

Joseph, who began secondary school in Coláiste an Chraoibhín in Fermoy on Monday, has been a wheelchair user for most of his life.

Muscular dystrophy is the collective name for a range of neuromuscular conditions, which are characterised by the progressive weakening and wasting of the muscles.

There is no cure for muscular dystrophy but there have been huge advances in increasing the quality of life for people with the condition.

Joe T Mooney, chief executive of Muscular Dystrophy Ireland (MDI), said the association is delighted with Joseph’s success and wished him well in his future acting career.

“MDI strives to promote independent living for people with muscular dystrophy through practical empowerment, so that they may fully participate in society and live a life of their own choosing,” he said.

“Dublin City Community Channel is a unique station that values and embraces all individuals in the community.

“Members of MDI are thrilled with the opportunity to highlight the awareness and knowledge of the condition.”

The House was funded by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland through the Sound and Vision Scheme, in partnership with training specialists Fastrack to IT, and production company Timesnap Ltd.

It is the first major drama series to be produced solo by an Irish TV station other than RTÉ/TG4.

It will be broadcast on Chorus NTL (channel 802) to 20,000 homes in the greater Dublin area on Thursdays at 7pm, and repeated the next day at 12.30pm and on Sundays at 7pm. It will be broadcast over the next six weeks.

While it will not be available in the Munster area, Joseph’s parents Ann and Patrick, and his brothers, Richard, 15 and Patrick Junior, 11, have already seen the series on DVD.

The programme makers are in discussion with other community channels around the country to screen the drama elsewhere.