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World MS Day is about connection for Limerick’s Declan McCarthy
For Declan McCarthy, living in Limerick, World MS Day is about one powerful word: “Connection.”
World MS Day is about the power of connection for Limerick’s Declan McCarthy
World MS Day is marked globally each year on 30 May and brings people together to raise awareness of multiple sclerosis, share lived experiences and strengthen support across the MS community. The global theme for World MS Day 2026 is diagnosis, recognising that an MS diagnosis can be life-changing and can bring uncertainty, questions and emotion.
In Ireland, MS Ireland is marking World MS Day 2026 through its national campaign, MS Journeys: Many Faces, One Community. The campaign is sharing stories from people living with MS across Ireland throughout May, highlighting that every journey is different while also reflecting the strength, resilience and support found within the MS community.
Declan’s story is being shared as part of the campaign. Diagnosed at the age of 28, he describes living with MS in honest terms as “challenging, exhausting and at times debilitating.”
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His diagnosis changed the course of his life and reshaped how he sees himself and the world around him. Over time, Declan learned that MS is not something a person should have to carry alone. “I quickly realised this is not something I can do by myself… it made me a more open person,” he said.
The support of family has been central to Declan’s journey. “I married the love of my lif and we have two kids,” he said.
One of the most difficult and often misunderstood symptoms for Declan is fatigue. He says: “The word tired just does not cover it. It is its own force.”
While MS can be exhausting and difficult, Declan’s story is also one of resilience, perspective and connection. For him, being part of the MS community means knowing that others understand what he is going through. His message to others living with MS is simple: “You are not alone.”
To mark World MS Day in the Mid-West, MS Ireland is hosting a World MS Day Information Day on Wednesday, 27 May 2026, at the Castletroy Park Hotel, Limerick, from 10.30am to 1pm. The event is open to people living with MS, along with family members and supporters, and will offer information, advice, resources and an opportunity for community connection.
Guest speakers will include Dr Andrew Lockhart, Consultant Neurologist at University Hospital Limerick, who will speak about new and emerging treatments in MS, and Aisling O’Grady, Dietitian at University Hospital Limerick, who will discuss nutrition and diet for people with MS.
To register your interest, contact the Mid-West Regional Team by emailing [email protected].
Through stories like Declan’s and events across Ireland, MS Ireland’s World MS Day campaign aims to build understanding, challenge misconceptions and remind people living with MS that they are part of a strong and supportive community.
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