October 4th, 2026, was a very special date for Epilepsy Ireland as we celebrated our 60th birthday.
Over the past six decades, our organisation has worked alongside people living with epilepsy, their families, healthcare professionals, volunteers, supporters and advocates to improve understanding of epilepsy and ensure that no person's life is limited by the condition.
To mark this important milestone, we were honoured to receive a special message from Ireland's first citizen, Uachtarán na hÉireann, Catherine Connolly, which extends to the entire epilepsy community.
President Connolly's message reads as follows:
Ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas ó chroí a dhéanamh libh agus seasca bliain ar an bhfód á cheiliúradh ag Titeamas Éireann.
For the past 60 years, Epilepsy Ireland has provided invaluable support to those living with epilepsy and to their families and wider communities. Through advocacy, education, research and the provision of practical support, you have made a lasting contribution to the lives of so many people across Ireland.
This anniversary offers an opportunity to recognise the dedication of all of the staff members, past and present, who have sustained the work of the organisation for the past six decades. It is also a time to acknowledge the courage and resilience of the many people and families whose experiences have helped to shape a greater understanding of epilepsy in Ireland.
Tréaslaím libh as ucht bhur ndíograis agus bhur ndúthracht chun feabhas a chur ar shaol dhaoine atá buailte ag Titeamas agus chun tacú leo agus lena muintir. Is mór an méid atá déanta agaibh le blianta fada anuas ar a son.
Guím gach rath oraibh sna blianta amach romhaibh.
Go mba fada buan sibh.
Catherine Connolly
Uachtarán na hÉireann
President of Ireland
Thank you, Uachtarán, for your message of support, which we know will be appreciated by people living with epilepsy, their families and the wider epilepsy community.
The President was not the only person to send birthday wishes. We also received a special video message from two of our incredible volunteers, Rebecca and Emma, who will be familiar to many of our members, volunteers and supporters thanks to their longstanding and enthusiastic support for Epilepsy Ireland.
However, rather than singing Happy Birthday to Epilepsy Ireland, they chose to sing a much more important song, as you will see in the video below...
With Epilepsy Ireland now looking ahead to the next 60 years, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who has supported our work in any way over the past six decades. Everything we have done and achieved has only been possible because of your support.
We do not have to look too far back to find examples of that support leading to significant success. In recent weeks, we announced a record-breaking investment in three new epilepsy research projects, bringing our total research investment to more than €2 million. At the same time, supporters across the country took part in our September Walking Challenge to raise awareness of epilepsy and vital funds for our services, raising more than €105,000 at the time of writing.
As we celebrate 60 years of service, support, advocacy and progress, we also look ahead with optimism and ambition. There is still much work to do, but with your continued support we are confident that the future can be brighter for everyone affected by epilepsy.
If you are looking for the perfect birthday gift for Epilepsy Ireland on our 60th anniversary, we have just one request: encourage your family, friends, colleagues and wider networks to take a moment to learn more about epilepsy. We, and the 45,000 people living with epilepsy across Ireland, would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you for being part of our journey so far.
Together, we can achieve a society where no person's life is limited by epilepsy.
Further Information
- To learn more about epilepsy, visit the 'Epilepsy Information' section of our website
- To learn about Time, Safe, Stay, visit the 'Seizure First Aid' section of our website
- To learn more about our recent research investments, visit the 'News' section of our website
- To add to the incredible amount raised by our September Walking Challenge participants and make a vital donation, visit our 'Funraisin' site
- Join us on the journey ahead by becoming a member of Epilepsy Ireland - visit the 'Shop' section of our website
- Remember – whether you are living with epilepsy or supporting a loved one with the condition, our services are here for you. If you need any information or support about epilepsy or want to learn more about the services we offer, get in touch with your local Community Resource Officer. You can find their details on the ‘Our Local Services’ section page of our website.