IASLT in Conversation

In this episode we talk to Shona McEachern who is living with a highly aggressive form of Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis and is using Assistive Technology to help her communicate and control her environment. She is joined by speech and language therapist Caroline McLoughlin and clinical engineering technician Alan Joyce from Enable Ireland.

In this episode we speak with two final year Speech and Language Therapy students Aine and Holly about the profession, the importance of student placements and the work of the Clinical Therapies Society in UCC.

In this episode we talk to Anne Horgan and Anne Tangney, both of whom retired from their role as SLT Manager of Cork North and South Primary Care SLT Services respectively in 2024. Both graduates of Trinity College Dublin, they reflect on their time as SLTs over the last 30+ years and discuss how they would like to see the profession to develop into the future.

In this episode we are speaking with Irene Walsh, recently retired Associate Professor of Speech and Language Therapy in Trinity College Dublin. Irene discusses her career as a Speech and Language Therapist from being in the first SLT class in Trinity College to the highs and lows of her career as a clinician, author and associate professor.

Today we are speaking with Pauraic Ryan, a Senior SLT working on the Neurosurgical team in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin. Pauraic discusses his journey to his current role, his day to day work in the department and the fascinating role of SLT in awake craniotomies.

In this episode, we are speaking with Gina O'Donohue, retired Speech and Language Therapist who has spent 40 years working in the Irish Health Service. Gina reminisces on her career, covid, promoting the profession and the importance of connection in today's world.

In this episode we speak to the 2024 winner of the IASLT SLT Support and Mentor Award, Deirdre Kidney from St.Vincent's University Hospital. Deirdre was described as a trailblazer for SLT's in Ireland. She was nominated due to her excellent clinical skills as well as her incredible ability to provide guidance and mentorship to students, young therapists and senior SLT's - in addition to the wider MDT and medical teams.

Tom qualified as a Speech and Language Therapist from the University of Galway in 2012. His SLT journey has seen him venture from London to the English Lake District, to Edinburgh, and back to Ireland in 2020. He is currently a Little Voices Programme Coordinator with ABC Start Right in Limerick, supporting schools, crèches and community organisations to implement universal and targeted SLT strategies and interventions. He has an Msc in Digital Healthcare Transformation from the University of Limerick.

In this episode, Sean Pert shares his experiences of gendered expectations of how to interact with clients on placement, the benefits of being a male SLT where male clients and fathers find it easier to identify with a male SLT, having to invent your professional persona because of a lack of role models in the profession, and breaking down barriers for men to enter the profession by having conversations about men in SLT. Sean also talks about linguistic racism, the importance of supporting home languages for bilingual clients, and working to ensure equity in service provision for all clients.

In this podcast, we delve into Abbie's experience of cultural diversity in the HSE community and SLT in particular. She shares how this diversity shapes her daily work life, especially as she supports clients during some of their most vulnerable moments. Abbie hopes that this conversation shines a light on what is often a significant blind spot for those who don’t face these challenges daily. Her aim is to foster greater compassion, acceptance, and awareness, ultimately leading to better support for culturally diverse staff in the workplace.