It’s the day after the big day before! We’d like to thank everyone for showing their support for our #EpilepsyDay campaign and if you haven’t already, we’d encourage you to go and learn more about those key words of Time, Safe, Stay by visiting the ‘International Epilepsy Day 2024’ page on our website.
While the release of the campaign on our social media channels and website was one aspect of the campaign, there’s a few things you might have missed in the lead-up to International Epilepsy Day and on the day itself! This article highlights **some** of the other activities we had going on to raise awareness of epilepsy and Time, Safe, Stay for #EpilepsyDay!
- Sky TV Video on demand and broadcast adverts
While you'll recognise the video below as our feature video for our International Epilepsy Day campaign, what you might not have known is that the video has also been appearing on Sky Ireland's video on demand service, as well as on Sky Ireland's broadcast TV channels for the past week helping us reach a large audience with our key message! - Radio Adverts Across Ireland
Once again, our Patron Rick O'Shea was the voice of our campaign this year, providing voice-overs for our videos - but did you know Rick also lent his voice to digital radio adverts which have been running across Ireland's 152 radio stations over the past week? Have a listen to the ad in the video below! - Irish Times Print Advert
Did you pick up a copy of the Irish Times yesterday? If you did, you would've seen a hopefully familiar message staring back at you!
An important message in the Irish Times! - Digital advertisements across leading websites
When not visiting your favourite website www.epilepsy.ie, you may have seen our Time, Safe, Stay message for #EpilepsyDay popping up on other website too, helping us once again to reach a larger audience with our key messages!
Some familiar faces and messaging on some of Ireland's leading news websites! - Outdoor Digital Displays!
Alongside the above, over the past week we have also had our key message promoted on digital billboards in shopping centres in Dublin, Cork and Galway!
A very important message being promoted in Liffey Valley Shopping Centre! - Irish Independent with Paul
One of the faces of our International Epilepsy Day campaign spoke to the Irish Independent about his lived experience of epilepsy. You can read the article by visiting the Irish Independent website. - RTÉ 2FM Jennifer Zamparelli Show
Paul was certainly kept busy for Epilepsy Day as he also appeared on the Jennifer Zamparelli Show, chatting to Jennifer about life with epilepsy. You can listen back by visiting the RTÉ website. - Cara on iRadio!
One of the faces from our campaign, Cara spoke to iRadio about living with epilepsy. You can listen back in the video below. - Sunday World Interview with Lucy
Another face of our campaign, Lucy Prevo also shared her lived experience with epilepsy, speaking to the Sunday World in a two page piece. Unfortunately a link is not available but we have no doubt it helped educate the wider public about epilepsy.
Lucy's feature in the Sunday World - RTÉ Nine O' Clock Show
In the lead up to International Epilepsy Day. Alex Kelly spoke to the 9'O'Clock show about her journey with epilepsy and the many ups and downs involved. You can listen back by visiting the RTÉ website. - Irish Times feature about Rebecca
In a fantastic feature about the lived experience of epilepsy and information about supporting a child with epilepsy, Gráinne Reid spoke to the Irish Times in the lead up to International Epilepsy Day. You can read the article by visiting the Irish Times website. - Irish Examiner feature about Áine
Rebecca wasn't the only epilepsy warrior featured in the lead-up to International Epilepsy Day, as her fellow warrior Áine was featured in the Irish Examiner. You can read the Hart family's story by visiting the Irish Examiner website. - RSVP interview with Cara!
Another one of the faces of our campaign, Cara, spoke to RSVP about living with epilepsy. You can read the article by visiting the RSVP Live website. - Sun.ie with Mark
Our volunteer of the year for 2023 Mark McGuire spoke to the Sun about his family's experience of life with epilepsy following his son Ciarán's diagnosis. You can read their story by visiting the Sun website. - Galway Bay FM with Rachel
Speaking of volunteers of the year, our other volunteer of the year for 2023, Rachel Langan popped into Galway Bay FM to discuss life with epilepsy. You can listen back by visiting our YouTube channel.
Keith Finnegan with Rachel Langan after their interview - Midwest with Cara
Sticking to the West, one of the faces of our campaign Cara Martin spoke to Tommy Marren on Midwest radio about life with epilepsy. - Julia and Jack speak to the Echo
In the lead up to Epilepsy Day, we had our media volunteers Julia and Jack speak to the Echo about their experience of life with epilepsy. You can read this by visiting the Echo website. - Highland Radio with Laura
Prior to #EpilepsyDay, our media volunteer Laura joined Highland Radio to discuss her experience of epilepsy. You can listen back by visiting the Highland Radio website. - Donegal News with Pat
Sticking to Donegal, our media volunteer Pat discussed his epilepsy with the Donegal News. Unfortunately no link is available.
Pat's article in the Donegal News - Limerick Live with Ava
Another of our media volunteers, Ava was busy on the airwaves raising awareness of epilepsy. You can listen back to Ava by visiting the Acast website. - Meath Chronicle with Karley
In advance of #EpilepsyDay, Karley spoke about her life with epilepsy. You can read the article by visiting the Meath Chronicle website.
Karley with the print version of her article - NEAR FM with Linda
Another of our media volunteers Linda appeared on NEAR FM to raise awareness for Epilepsy Day! You can listen back by visiting the NEAR FM website. - South East FM & Clare FM
Our Advocacy & Communications Manager Paddy also appeared on South East FM & Clare FM to promote our message for Epilepsy Day. You can listen back by visiting the Clare FM website and South East FM website. - Free Travel Announcement for #EpilepsyDay!
To mark International Epilepsy Day, Minister Heather Humphreys also officially announced the changes which are coming to the Free Travel scheme as a result of our campaign. The announcement coinciding with Epilepsy Day not only helped draw attention to our work on this issue, but helped encourage people to learn more about epilepsy as well. You can read associated coverage by visiting the Irish Examiner website - or you can visit the 'News' section of our website to read our article on this. - Oireachtas Support for #TimeSafeStay message!
As with previous years, there was strong support for #EpilepsyDay with TDs and Senators from all parties and none using their social media channels to help amplify our message to their supporters and constituents.
As noted at the outset of this page, this is a review of just some of the reach our campaign has had, where links etc are available. We would like to thank everyone who contributed to our campaign in any way - be it by taking part in a media interview, by liking or sharing on social media, or by simply taking the time to speak to a friend or colleague to share your experience of epilepsy to help raise awareness. If you have been inspired by any of the efforts of our media volunteers for #EpilepsyDay, we always need more people to come forward and share their stories! Visit the 'Awareness' section of our website to learn more about this!
Finally, if you have not done so already, please visit the International Epilepsy Day 2024 page of our website to learn more about Time, Safe, Stay and share this with your family, friends, colleagues and community! It is vital information to know! Within this section, you can already read some of the incredible testimonies we have received in the lead up to Epilepsy Day focusing on the lived experience of the condition - they are well worth a few moments of your time.
Thank you once again for your support for #EpilepsyDay!