International Epilepsy Day took place earlier this week on the 13th February 2023. We introduced our new campaign highlighting how Time, Safe, Stay needs to become general knowledge amongst the public.
We’d like to thank all those featured in the videos for agreeing to be part of our campaign and allowing themselves to highlight this important message.
While you may have seen our campaign itself, there is possibly a few things that you potentially missed as well – so we’ve highlighted them below for you to look back on!
- Throughout the week, audio adverts have been running on Today Fm promoting our key message of Time, Safe, Stay – with our patron Rick O’Shea once again lending us his voice this year (as he has countless times before!)
- Also, over on Spotify – a music themed general knowledge ad has been running this week promoting our key message – again, thanks to Rick
- If you got a print version of the Irish Times, you would’ve seen a familiar message within the pages….
- Meanwhile, if you were checking out the latest news on either the Irish Independent or Irish Times, you would’ve seen the key message of our campaign as well through our digital ads!
Screenshots of our ads on the two leading news websites!
- Were you watching the Virgin Media News on Monday? The bulletins throughout the day featured Bernie Hart and the fantastic Aine talking about their journey with epilepsy, with further input from Dr. Danny Costello. You can watch it back by visiting the Virgin Media website.
- In a fantastic personal feature, Melissa Ryan and her family spoke to the Irish Farmer’s Journal about her journey with epilepsy – visit the Irish Farmer’s Journal website to learn more.
- Our key message was promoted in the Irish Examiner - visit the Irish Examiner website to read more.
- Our key message was promoted in the Irish Country Magazine – visit the Irish Country Magazine's website to read more.
- A key question was asked in the popular Joe.ie weekly quiz to help encourage people to learn more – see the question by visiting the Joe.ie website.
- Our key message was promoted on Her.ie – visit the Her.ie website to read more.
- Our key message was promoted on Herfamily.ie – visit the Herfamily.ie website to read more.
- Our key message was promoted in RSVP- visit the RSVP website to read more.
- In the Irish Independent, a fantastic personal feature with Barbara Nic Giolla Phadraig’s about her son Shane’s diagnosis with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome was arranged by our colleagues in Dravet Syndrome Ireland – and featured our key message of Time, Safe, Stay. Visit the Irish Independent to read more (behind a paywall).
- Mark McGuire from Kildare spoke to Midlands 103FM about his son Ciarán’s diagnosis of epilepsy; the incredible challenge he is set to undertake later this year in support of Epilepsy Ireland; and to promote our Time, Safe, Stay message. You can listen back by visiting the Midlands 103 website.
- Yvonne Joyce from Galway talked to Keith Finnegan on Galway Bay FM about her journey with epilepsy alongside our Advocacy and Communications Manager, Paddy McGeoghegan. You can listen back by visiting the Galway Bay FM website.
- Cara Martin from Mayo talked to Tommy Marren on Mid-West Radio about her journey with epilepsy. You can listen back by visiting the Mid-West Radio website.
- Thank you to Ruth Cox from Sligo who spoke to Ocean FM about her journey with epilepsy (unfortunately playback link is unavailable).
- Niamh Watson from Donegal spoke to Greg Hughes on Highland radio about her journey with epilepsy. You can listen back by visiting the Highland Radio website. Niamh also spoke to the Donegal News about her epilepsy (unfortunately link is not available).
- Thank you to Melissa Ryan who spoke to Tipp FM about her journey with epilepsy (unfortunately playback link is unavailable).
- Theresa O’Donoghue from Clare spoke to Clare FM about her experience with epilepsy – you can listen back by visiting the Clare FM website.
- Thank you to Saoirse Fergus from Cavan who spoke to Joe Finnegan from Northern Sound about her journey with epilepsy (unfortunately playback link is unavailable).
- Cork Man Liam Burke spoke to the Echo about his journey with the condition – visit The Echo website to read more.
- Kate Maher spoke to the Southern Star about her experiences with epilepsy - visit the Southern Star website to read more.
- In the Seanad on the day after #EpilepsyDay, Senator Fiona O’Loughlin raised the importance of raising awareness and our key words of Time, Safe, Stay! You can watch her contribution in the video below.
These are just some of the highlights from our campaign this year and we’d like to thank everyone who made this possible – especially our members, supporters and volunteers for sharing and shouting our message far and wide!
Increasing awareness of epilepsy is not just for a day though – so if you or someone you know hasn’t already, encourage them to visit our ‘International Epilepsy Day 2023’ landing page and make Time, Safe, Stay part of your general knowledge today!
Together we can achieve a society where no person’s life is limited by epilepsy.