About Us
We are an entirely voluntary organisation with a committed team that plans to grow into the future and extend our reach to the entire FND community in Ireland.
Our story
After being diagnosed with motor FND in 2021 our founder Eamon McPartlin realised there was no Irish FND support organisation. Given Eamon’s background in advocacy he became a peer support volunteer with a global FND charity and got them to set up in 2022 a closed Facebook group and monthly online peer support meetings for Ireland. In early 2023 Eamon stepped away from this global FND charity to concentrate on his advocacy role with the Neurology Support Centre in Sligo.
Over the next few months many people living with FND contacted Eamon and it became clear there was a need for a dedicated Irish FND advocacy and support organisation. With the support of Dr. Aoife Laffan, Consultant Neurologist, St James Hospital, Dublin and Catherine Cummins, the mother of a teenager daughter with FND, FND Ireland was set up and registered as a not for profit company limited by guarantee at the end of 2023.
Our mission
Our mission is to advocate for better awareness and clinical advancements, promote research and provide support to those living with FND in Ireland.
Our vision
Our vision is a society that understands FND, where those living with FND experience a better quality of life.
Our Team
Our Voluntary Board of Directors
Eamon McPartlin - Founder, Chair and Director
Eamon’s professional background is in engineering and he has a special interest in accessibility of the built environment. Eamon was diagnosed with motor FND in 2021 and also lives with another neurological condition called Dystonia. He has a passion for advocacy, peer support and research which is advanced by his ‘lived experience’
Eamon gained experience in patient advocacy and peer support through his roles as an advocate with Dystonia Ireland and as a peer support volunteer with a global FND charity. He gained valuable insight of the not for profit sector supporting those with neurological conditions when he was appointed to the board of the Neurology Support Centre in Sligo.
Eamon is an active HSE patient partner at both regional and national level. He is a member of a number of steering groups including the HSE National Neuro-rehabilitation Workstream Groups. Eamon has also contributed to research ‘focus groups’ such as the Neurological Alliance of Ireland report examining the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic on access to neurological services in Ireland.
Catherine Cummins - Co-Founder, Secretary and Director
Catherine’s daughter was diagnosed with FND in 2021 at 15 years of age. Catherine met Eamon through her daughter’s advocacy for FND at the BT Young Scientist. Since then both Catherine and her daughter have given presentations on FND to both local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) teams and at the national CAMHS psychologists conference.
Catherine’s early professional career was in retail management before moving on to study early childhood education. She currently manages a small preschool where she is setting up an after-school service. As her preschool is a registered charity, she has also gained valuable experience in the running of a not for profit organisation.
Catherine volunteered for a short time with a global FND charity before joining Eamon in setting up FND in Ireland. Catherine wants to use her experience as a parent of a young daughter with FND to reach out to other parents and family members and is passionate in advocating for early intervention to support those living with FND.
Dr. Aoife Laffan - Co-Founder and Director
Dr. Laffan is a Consultant Neurologist at St. James’s Hospital with a primary role in Long Covid Neurology and has been the Clinical Lead for the development of Long Covid Neurological services in Ireland. Dr. Laffan qualified from UCD in 2007. In 2012, she completed her MD thesis on autonomic function in epilepsy. Dr. Laffan completed her specialist training in Ireland and went on to complete two Aspire Fellowships; the first in deep brain stimulation for movement disorders at the Mater Hospital and second, in epilepsy and chronic disease management at St. James’s Hospital.
Dr. Laffan’s specialist interest is in Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) and she has spent time with Professor Jon Stone and his team in Edinburgh. She is a founding member of the Functional Neurological Disorder Society, an international group aiming to improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients with FND. She is the clinical lead for FND in Ireland, working to develop a service which would be the first of its kind in the Country.
Eddie McHugh - Director
Eddie is delighted to be joining the board of FND Ireland as director in July 2024. He is a Research and Development Engineering Manager by profession and has also had a number of years experience working in the care profession in the UK and Ireland.
Eddie is married to Trish who also volunteers with FND Ireland. Eddie is already an active member in the local community, where he coaches children in GAA and soccer, and he is chairman of a GAA club. He previously was PRO for other voluntary groups, and widely interacts with communication and marketing leaders in his professional role.
Eddie took interest in FND after his 18 year old son John was diagnosed with FND in April 2023. The diagnosis taught Eddie and his family that no FND treatment pathway existed in the Irish healthcare system and as result Eddie and Trish reached out to Eamon. Eddie is looking forward to working with the FND Ireland team in helping those living with FND and their families to get the support they deserve.
Dr. Caroline Chawke - Director
Dr. Caroline Chawke joined the board of FND Ireland in August 2024. Dr Chawke is a Senior Clinical Psychologist working in Liaison Psychiatry at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital. She works across neuropsychiatry and general medical teams providing assessments, psychological formulation and therapeutic interventions to individuals facing challenges related to chronic illness, physical injury, and neurological disorders.
Dr. Chawke obtained her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy) from University College Dublin in 2021, following her Master’s in Cognitive Neuroscience from the University of Sussex. She has extensive experience working with children and adults in a variety of settings, including community mental health, disability, and inpatient care.
She has a particular interest in Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) where she contributes to the development of treatments and services for patients with FND. Dr. Chawke adopts a collaborative, compassionate, and non-judgmental approach in her work.
Jackie Gallagher - Director
Jackie joined the board of FND Ireland as director in August 2024. Jackie’s background is in the area of youth and community work. She has extensive experience working in the area of family support and more recently in disability services. Jackie really values the importance of peer support and a safe environment for people to access support and be treated with empathy and compassion. Research has shown the benefits of peer support is vital to allow people to build up links with people with similar lived experience, some of the outcomes include improved mental health and overall health outcomes and is a valuable resource in managing lifelong conditions.
Jackie became aware of FND in April 2023 when her then 14 year old daughter was diagnosed with FND. The past year has been a battle in trying to access support and services for a teenager. As a parent Jackie really would like to see the development of support and services for teenagers with FND and for those caring for them. She wants greater awareness of FND within the healthcare sector and for teenagers with FND to be encouraged to advocate for their own needs.
Our Featured Volunteers
Gareth Saunders - Digital Media Coordinator
Gareth has a diverse background in multimedia, community healthcare services, and golf psychology. He currently runs his own Digital Media and Photography business, where he collaborates with numerous well-established brands. His extensive multimedia experience includes significant contributions non profit organisations and charities.
Gareth’s journey took a personal turn when he was diagnosed with FND in 2022, leading him to connect with Eamon. Drawing from his own experiences, Gareth envisions FND Ireland as a crucial support network for those living with FND, aiming to provide invaluable assistance and guidance.
Gareth is an integral part of the FND Ireland team and has played a pivotal role in the branding and development of the FND Ireland website and social media platforms.
Caroline Devlin – FND Champion
Caroline is delighted to join the FND Ireland team in June 2024 as our first ever FND Champion. As an active long distance runner, Caroline is completing a number of marathons as well as an ultra marathon in 2024. At each event, Caroline is proudly wearing the FND Ireland logo on her running vest to raise awareness of FND.
Caroline’s teenage daughter was diagnosed with FND in July 2020 following a year of exploratory tests and consultations. Caroline had been working in the early education sector at the time, however, it became increasingly apparent that she would have to give up work in order to be at home to support her daughter.
Caroline connected with Eamon in 2022 and as a parent she wants to ensure families who have a loved one diagnosed with FND get the support they deserve.
Dearbhla Cullinane – Research Liaison
Dearbhla joined FND Ireland as Research Liaison in June 2024. Dearbhla is a PhD researcher at Trinity College Dublin, dedicated to advancing our neuroscientific understanding of Functional Neurological Disorder and improving medical education. She holds a BA in Applied Psychology and MSc in Human Anatomy, having graduated in 2019 and 2020.
Passionate about her research, Dearbhla views FND as a very interesting area of neuroscientific inquiry with many unanswered questions and negative perceptions that need addressing. Her motivation lies in ensuring that patients with FND receive national recognition and that medical students learn about FND in a stigma-free manner, comparable to other neurological disorders. With her background in psychology and teaching,
Dearbhla aims to contribute to the educational efforts of FND Ireland, develop a robust research body in Ireland, and advocate for dedicated treatment services for FND.
Owen Killian – Education Liaison
Owen Killian joined the FND Ireland team as Education Liaison in September 2024. Owen is a Neurology SpR and ICAT fellow currently pursuing a PhD in St. Vincent‘s University Hospital. Owen has a special interest in movement disorders and Functional Movement Disorder. His research focuses on uncovering the mechanisms underlying brain network disorders that affect motor control, including Dystonia and Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).
Owen has been passionate about neurology education in general and FND education in particular for a number of years having delivered practical courses and lectures for medical students and psychology students on the clinical presentations, mechanisms, and management of FND.
Owen is focused on developing the educatonal efforts of FND Ireland so as to enable the better understanding of FND by health care professionals in ireland.
Our FND Ireland Awareness Ambassadors
Aimee Campbell - Awareness Ambassador
Aimee started her professional career in healthcare where she worked as a healthcare assistant until she became ill herself. She then moved onto childcare before settling into finance as a payroll administrator. She is very active in volunteering and currently volunteers with Louth Civil Defence.
Aimee’s health journey started after turning 18 years old when she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. This came as a huge blow to Aimee as up until then she was extremely active as an Irish dancer where she competed at the highest level in the World Championships. Aimee’s health deteriorated further when she was diagnosed with FND in 2017 at 21 years old.
Her FND has impacted her life greatly resulting in many hospital admissions. During an extended hospital stay in 2023 Aimee set a goal for 2024 to raise awareness of FND in Ireland by bravely sharing her own journey with FND. Aimee has been on local and national media highlighting the lack of homecare support available for those living with FND. Aimee is very excited to be part of the FND Ireland team and is passionate about removing the ”stigma’ around FND.
Jane Hackett - Awareness Ambassador
Jane is an award winning violinist and mixed genre performance artist specialising in classical and contemporary music. Her career spans from classical concert settings with leading orchestras and ensembles to creating multi-faceted works combining classical music with various other forms of art. Jane has performed as soloist with the RTE Concert Orchestra, at the Carthage International World Music Festival and at the National Concert Hall Dublin.
She is an active member of the experimental music group, Kirkos Ensemble and Collaborative Projects Director of chamber ensemble, Musici Ireland, developing and performing multidisciplinary productions and new Irish compositions. Jane was awarded Music Network’s ‘Established Musician in Residence 2024’ to develop inclusive performances for Deaf audiences and after being diagnosed with FND herself in 2022, aims to continue to create accessible concert prototypes for audiences and performers living with chronic conditions. Jane has a great passion to raise awareness of FND through the arts.