Ambassadors
Some of Ireland's most successful and well known sporting champions have asthma and they act as Ambassadors for the Asthma Society of Ireland. Our Ambassadors front many of our awareness campaigns. The Asthma Society Ambassadors are wonderful role models for young people with asthma. They all struggled to control their asthma when they were very young but once they got their asthma under control, they went on to achieve all their goals!
John O'Shea
Ireland defender and Sunderland captain John O'Shea has had asthma since childhood. As an Asthma Society Ambassador John has fronted many of the Society's awareness campaigns over the last number of years including our "Back to School with Asthma" campaign and our "Reach Your Peak with Asthma" campaign.
A wonderful role model for young people with asthma; he is regularly interviewed about being a prominent sports star with asthma and on his work with the Asthma Society of Ireland.
Ronan O'Gara
Ireland and Munster rugby star Ronan O'Gara is an Asthma Society Ambassador who has had asthma since childhood. He has been involved with the Society's work over the last number of years, launching World Asthma Day in 2009, meeting and greeting Asthma Society competition winners, and speaking about how he controls his asthma in our educational "Reach Your Peak With Asthma" DVD. An inspirational figure for young people who suffer with asthma, his successful career shows that once asthma is controlled it should not stop you reaching your goals.
Ruaidhri Higgins
Derry City midfielder and Asthma Society Ambassador Ruaidhri Higgins has suffered with asthma all his life. Being a professional athlete, it is almost second nature to him to make sure his asthma is controlled. Ruiadhri has been involved in our World Asthma Day "Change Your Life in 10 Minutes" campaign. Ruiadhri played with Coventry City FC in the late 1990's. It was during this time, he got his asthma under control and since then he has always been in control of his asthma. He has won four League of Ireland medals and one FAI cup with Derry City. He also gives regular interviews on how he controls his asthma and maintains a top fitness level.
Niall Carroll
World Kickboxing Champion, Niall Carroll became the Asthma Society of Ireland's first Youth Ambassador in August 2011. Niall reached the dizzying heights of World Champion at only 12 years of age. Although Niall and his parents struggled to control his asthma when he was very young, once the right asthma management plan was found for Niall, he became heavily involved in the world of kickboxing and excelled from an early age at the sport. Niall fronted the Back to School campaign in 2011 . Since then Niall has given many interviews encouraging young people with asthma to take part in sports.
Denis Hickie
Former Irish rugby player International, Denis Hickie has had asthma since childhood. He has been involved in many of the Society's campaigns, including launching the "2010 Back to School with Asthma Four Week Plan" as well as frequent media interviews discussing asthma control and chairing public meetings on asthma control. Denis is a powerful and articulate speaker on his own experience with asthma and how he has controlled his condition throughout his life and sporting career.
Colin Moran
Former Dublin Captain of the Senior Gaelic team, Colin or "Collie" Moran has appeared in media interviews on Irish television speaking about his asthma and how he controls the condition on behalf of the Asthma Society of Ireland and also launched the "Reach Your Peak with Asthma" DVD in 2008. Collin was diagnosed with asthma in his early teens. His doctors devised and asthma management plan after Colin's diagnosis and he went on to be Dublin Captain once his condition was under control. Colin was is featured in our "Life Without Limits" gallery.
