Board of Directors

Mrs. Tessa Dagge has been involved with Brainwave for over 30 years. Tessa became involved in the Irish epilepsy movement when her son, who has epilepsy, was very young. She is Chair of the Association and is a member of the key Finance & Audit sub committee, which she chaired for several years. Tessa has also been involved with most of Brainwave's major fundraising campaigns.

Mr.Vincent Savino is a retired Army officer who has an interest in epilepsy through a family member. Vincent Savino is Vice-Chair of Brainwave. Vincent has also been active in fundraising activities. 

Ms. Claire Crehan Dowdall has been a member of the Board of Directors for a number of years and is now Brainwave's Honorary Secretary. Claire, who trained as a nurse, has both a personal and professional interest in epilepsy. Claire now works for the Irish Wheelchair Association. Claire also has experience working in areas such as Spinal Injuries, Cardiology, High Blood Pressure and Health Education. Her involvement with Brainwave dates back to 1989 and since joining Claire has been actively involved in fundraising, awareness days, Horse Show Balls and the annual Brainwave conferences. Claire has been involved in the Irish Epilepsy Nurses group, Brainwave's Constitutional review sub-committee and is a member of Brainwave's PQASSO (Practical Quality Assurance System for Small Organisations) group. 

Mr. Mark Dowdall was Brainwave's Honorary Secretary and is now the Honorary Treasurer. He has been involved with the Association for several years on fundraising projects such as Roseweek and the Horse Show Ball. Since joining, Mark has also been co-opted to the Finance & Audit sub Committee and has been involved in fundraising initiatives and in the development of Brainwave's website. Mark works in the field of I.T. in the banking world and brings business skills to the Treasurer Position. Mark was on Brainwave's Constitutional review sub-committee and is a member of Brainwave's PQASSO (Practical Quality Assurance System for Small Organisations) group. 

Dr. Norman Delanty is a Consultant Neurologist and Epileptologist at Beaumont Hospital and runs the Epilepsy Service there. Dr. Delanty spent a number of years in the United States at Cornell Medical Centre in New York and the University of Pennsylvania. Norman has been a speaker at several Brainwave conferences and has organised frequent epilepsy events at Beaumont. Dr Delanty in conjunction with Brainwave produced the video "Leaving the Shadows".

Dr Michael J Hennessy is a Consultant Neurologist at University College Hospital, Galway.

Dr. Bryan Lynch is Consultant Paediatric Neurologist at the National Children's Hospital, Temple Street. Dr. Lynch worked for a number of years in the United States before returning to take up his post at Temple Street. Bryan has presented several important papers on epilepsy internationally and is also author of the book "A Guide to Diagnosis, Investigation and Treatment of Epilepsy". He has been a keynote speaker at Brainwave's National Conference.

Ms. Margaret McCahill has been actively involved with Brainwave for several years. Working as a pharmacist, Margaret first contacted Brainwave after she lost her driving licence, which prompted her to join. She became Chair of Brainwave's Group on Driving and epilepsy in 1998. The change in driving legislation is without a doubt, the result of persistent lobbing of politicians by the Driving and Epilepsy Group, who saw the need to bring Irish driving regulations in line with other EU countries. Margaret has also been a contributor to the Epilepsy News, Brainwave's newsletter and has spoken at Brainwave's Open Day during National Epilepsy Week.

Dr. Brian McNamara is a consultant Neurophysiologist based at Cork University Hospital, where he works closely with Dr Brian Sweeney in the Epilepsy field.

Ms. Norma Mitchell was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 24, while canvassing in her husband's first General Election campaign. Married to former Minister for European Affairs and current MEP for Dublin Gay Mitchell, Norma was the organisation leader for his successful four City Council, eight Dáil and two European Parliament campaigns. She continues to manage his busy Dublin office during his absence in Brussels and Strasbourg. A former Lady Mayoress of Dublin, she has been a youth leader and sports enthusiast and continues to be a community worker and volunteer with a number of organisations. A mother of four, Norma has been a political activist in her own right and has held officer positions in the Dublin South Central organisation of Fine Gael where she was constituency secretary for many years. Norma has been associated with Brainwave for many years and attended the European Congresses in Porto in Lisbon in 2010 and Copenhagen in 2006.

Ms. Audrey Murphy has been active in Brainwave for several years. Audrey has worked as a journalist and has been a frequent contributor to Epilepsy News. She has written about her successful epilepsy surgery and her subsequent return to driving as a result. Audrey has also been a member of Brainwave's Group on Driving and Epilepsy. Audrey has also been the subject of many newspaper interviews concerning her attitude to being a person with epilepsy.

Ms. Carol Saarsteiner has been a member of Brainwave for a number of years. She holds a BSc after successfully completing courses in Sociology, Health & Social Welfare and Law. Carol's daughter Nikki has epilepsy and they have both been actively involved with Brainwave. Carol has done numerous radio, newspaper and television interviews on behalf of Brainwave discussing Epilepsy awareness. In addition, Carol has been very active in supporting the work of the proposed new National Centre for Epilepsy.

Dr. Joyce Senior is a graduate student of education with years of experience as a primary teacher in Dalkey, Co. Dublin. As well as her postgraduate work in psychology and special needs Joyce has been engaged in continuing research into epilepsy at the Education Department, UCD. She became involved with Brainwave after the sudden death of her brother in 1997, and is now a member of its Executive Committee. Dr. Senior wrote a book on "Educational, Medical and Advisory Provision for Children with Epilepsy in Ireland" which was widely welcomed by parents of children with epilepsy. Dr. Senior was also involved in developing the "Teachers Pack" which is aimed at both primary and secondary schools in Ireland. Dr Senior was part of the editorial team who adapted "Epilepsy and the Young Adult" for people in Ireland.

Dr. Brian Sweeney is a Consultant Neurologist at Cork University Hospital He was keynote speaker at Brainwave's National Conference in 2003 on the Modern Management of Epilepsy-balancing seizure control and quality of life.

Dr. David Webb is a Consultant Paediatric Neurologist at our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin.