Sarah O’Connell – Co-Founder

Sarah and her daughter were both suffering from post viral ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) prior to the pandemic. She has a BA in Psychology from UCD, an MA in PsychoanalyticTheory from TCD and a certificate in Counselling Skills.

Following Covid infection, she and her daughter now both also suffer with Long Covid symptoms. Sarah’s son Jake, previously healthy, has developed Long Covid and PANS following repeated Covid infections.

Sarah has been working as a patient advocate for ME for some time and for Long Covid since 2020.

She is passionate about fighting for proper recognition and services for those with post viral illnesses. She is eager to fight for adequate care for adults and children in Ireland who are effected by Long Covid.

Tanja Buwalda – Co-Founder

An active business professional and mother before Covid hit, Tanja has been living with Long Covid since the first wave of Covid-19 infections in March 2020. 

Early on in her experience with Long Covid, Tanja experienced all the gaslighting, and lack of joined-up thinking/services that Ireland’s health system had to offer. As a result, she turned to international research and joined advocacy groups internationally. Her integrated approach to resolving her own chronic illness has led her to realise that we are missing a trick when it comes to post-viral illness by narrowly relying on the medical model alone to “fix” the problem. 

Tanja regularly participates in international long-covid research and is actively involved in Long Covid research in Ireland. A recent publication in conjunction with APC Microbiome, UCC, and CUH was the first of its kind in Ireland, where a patient was involved in the study design and implementation. 

Research and PPI are two current focus areas in Tanja’s Long Covid advocacy work. 

She is a patient representative for Long Covid with the Irish Platform for Patient Organisations, Science & Industry (IPOSSI) at the National Irish Covid Biobank (NICB).

She would like to see all long covid research, diagnostics, treatment guidelines, and healthcare delivery involve significant and ongoing patient consultation.

Julia Corey – Member

Julia holds an M.Sc. in Global Health and has been involved in the pandemic response since April 2020, first working with Partners in Health on Massachusett’s contact tracing programme. She has since worked as a researcher in several areas of public health and mental health in Ireland.

Julia wants to raise awareness about Long COVID to the general public in order to increase support and understanding for those experiencing the condition, as well as advocacy for improved access to specialized services, treatment, and research throughout the country. She also feels it is critical to raise awareness about the ongoing risks of COVID infections & re-infections, and how clean indoor air can help mitigate impact.

She is passionate about disability justice and believes that all immunocompromised, high-risk, disabled, or otherwise COVID-risk averse people should have access to safe spaces to socialise. She facilitates online and safer in-person meet-ups for people who are still taking caution to avoid infections/re-infections.

Gráinne Kelly – Member

Before the pandemic Gráinne was a Graphic and Product Designer turned Business Owner for a Sports Massage and Injury Therapy Clinic after switching career and training up in Sports Massage and Injury Therapy.

That change was to facilitate her ambitions to reach National Standard in Triathlon and potentially go further in Long Distance Triathlon. Gráinne was incredibly active from a young age with trials for Ireland in soccer and competing nationally in swimming and Triathlon.

Gráinne has suffered with long covid for over two and half years after infection in September 2020. Prior to covid Gráinne was running her own business while training 2/3 times a day. Since the onset of her illness Gráinne has had to completely stop her competitive training and close her business.

Gráinne has been an advocate for Long Covid for some time, appearing on the RTE news where she warned that Long Covid does not discriminate and could effect anyone at any age. She has also featured on Newstalk, in several national papers and on Ireland AM.

“I would love to see a more efficient accessible care and rehab plan for all those suffering with Long Covid symptoms.. I have received no official treatment for my chronic symptoms. It is not good enough.”

We have many members working hard behind the scenes who are not represented here, for their own personal reasons.