Inspiration by Cara Darmody

23/10/2025

I'm absolutely thrilled to be a part of this incredible University's push for additional funding & courses for adults with Intellectual Disabilities!! I'll be live in studio on Limerick's amazing radio station Live 95 next Tuesday at 11.40am to help TUS change people's lives for the better!! Remember, everyone deserves a pathway to achieve their maximum education potential, so let's make it happen with additional funding & by permanently securing these brilliant courses!!!

Micheál Martin Simon Harris TD James Lawless TD Michael Murphy TD Maurice Quinlivan TD Willie O'Dea TD Conor Sheehan T.D for Limerick City Kieran O'Donnell TUS Midwest - Flexible Learning Technological University of the Shannon, Athlone

Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) took a "transformational" step for inclusive education last week with the official launch of the Certificate in Applied Learning and Skills Development (CALSD) Level 6 programme at its Millennium Theatre in Moylish. The launch featured special guest and....

20/10/2025

Step right up for today's menu!!! - I've baked some Pains-au-chocolat, with kinder filling on the inside!!! I'd better hide them quickly before Dad demolishes them!!! 😂

19/10/2025

GO NEIL!!! Just sharing this AMAZING short clip of my incredible brother Neil in his special school this week!!! After years of being petrified to let a bike move underneath him, he's now on the move!! But even better still, if you watch very carefully at the 9-second mark, you'll see him balance & glide FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, so his potential is now huge!!!! 😁 This couldn't have happened without the extra teacher that l fought so hard to get for him!! Now let's all keep pushing to get the right resources for EVERY child that needs them!!! Well done Neil - the Tour de France, here you come!!!! 👏

18/10/2025

Well what a week that was!!! It's not every week you get personally credited with €20million of new Government funding for children with disabilities!!! You've all heard of Olympians who go to bed with their medals, so this is a new one - the 15 year old who went to bed with her €20million cheque!!! 🤣

17/10/2025

Does anyone remember that amazing story l told two months ago about the incredible Tesco Clonmel manager Martin Allen, who welcomed my mum with open arms when she entered the store with my brother John's autism assistance dog Crumble, and Mum then saw Martin being so kind to everyone else as well!!!
There's now been a huge outcome to that story - I decided to make sure that his bosses in Tesco Ireland found out about it, so to cut a long story short, their media team recently filmed a beautiful piece with Mum, Crumble, Martin and l about that incredible act of kindness, and they then brought Martin to a huge Tesco function last week with over 600 of their management present, and they put him on a pedestal as best practice for disability inclusion, and made a big presentation to him!! WOW!!!
If l ever run for the Presidency, this is what I'll do ever single day - provide a vision of kindness & inclusion and put people like Martin up on a pedestal for others to follow!! So from now on, the manager of Tesco Clonmel is to be officially known as 'Marvellous' Martin Allen!!! Well done Martin!!! 👏

Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland
Tipp FM Nationalist Newspaper Tipperary Star Tipp Mid-West Radio Tipp Echo Tipp Town

16/10/2025

A GREAT WEEK FOR STUDENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES!!!
I was so honoured earlier in the week to be a keynote speaker at one of Ireland's top universities in TUS Limerick, for the launch of their new course - the Certificate in Applied Learning & Skills Development!!

This course specifically provides a clear pathway to university education & degrees for adults with intellectual disabilities. 11 students have now began the course in Limerick, and 11 more in TUS Athlone!! Personally meeting the amazing students was so incredible!!

When young children go to special schools, the dream of university hasn't really been there for them. People like my brother Neil, with a profound intellectual disability, may never reach this level, but the option & supports to do so should still be there for those who can.

This new course will change the landscape forever for adults with intellectual disabilities. As one professor said - "These students will be a part of, not separate to, this great university. This isn't about getting them a job, this is about building careers." WOW!!!! Now that's the kind of society that l want to be part of!!!!

So I've written to Tanaiste Simon Harris TD as he was the Minister for Higher Education who kindly funded this course & pathway, to ask that Government retain this course and consider expanding it to other locations, and create new courses!! Every penny of investment in this will be a penny well spent!! Best wishes to the students who started - l can't wait to return for your big graduation!!!! 🙂

Technological University of the Shannon, Athlone TUS Midwest - Flexible Learning

15/10/2025

A little surprise bonus for Scoil Chormaic Special School!!! I gave a presentation to the amazing management & staff of PTSB bank some weeks ago, and they've now asked me to nominate a charity to give a €1,000 donation to. So it's my absolute pleasure to nominate Scoil Chormaic Special School in Cashel!! And it was so brilliant to meet up with my great friends at PTSB again recently at the ploughing championships!! Thanks a million for your generosity folks!!!!

14/10/2025

Take a look at my new cheque!!! 🤣 I was thrilled to be on Tipp FM this morning to talk about the €20million of Government funding that I've just received for the Assessments of Needs national crisis!! My great pal Fran Curry and l had some craic saying that we're going to split it 50/50 and head off to the tropics!!! 😂

13/10/2025

OMG - €20MILLION EXTRA SECURED!!!!!!

I actually can't believe it!! - the Government has released official confirmation that I've been directly credited with €20million of Government funding for Assessments of Needs backlogs!!! WHAT THE HECK!!!

Tánaiste Simon Harris wrote:- “Dear Cara, I wanted to write to you regarding Budget 2026 to share some very positive news regarding Assessments of Needs funding allocations. I can confirm that “Cara’s Fund” has been doubled from €10million to €20million as part of this year’s Budget.”
He goes on to say among other things “I want to again congratulate you on your extraordinary advocacy and determination.” Wow.

I'm absolutely speechless to be honest!! I'm still only 15 years old, so this is the greatest thing I've ever accomplished!! I'll get around to thanking everyone in the next day or so but for now I need to sit down before I collapse of pure shock!!!! 😊

You can tune into Tipp FM at 9am tomorrow morning to hear how it all happened!!!

For now I'm heading into TUS Limerick where I'm a keynote speaker as they launch an amazing new programme & course for adults with intellectual disabilities!!!

12/10/2025

Just getting in some practice for our bake sale in school this coming Tuesday!! - it could be the day l make my first million!!! 🤣 Today I've made delicious cookies, with pink icing, and either a gingerbread man or chocolate square on top!! Now for the biggest challenge of all - keeping 'sweet-tooth daddy' away from them!!!! 😂

And tune in to this page tomorrow as it looks like I'll have some campaign "Breaking News" to share!!! 😁

11/10/2025

Having some amazing playtime with my incredible brother John The Pirate in his special boat!! Working on turn taking and counting. Love spending time with this little dude!!! 💙💛

10/10/2025

So there's huge activity going on in the background about "Cara's Fund", and the rumours are flying around that l could know as early as Monday if funding is going to my Fund or not!! Some people are saying that with Budget cutbacks, that l won't get a penny, and that this could be my darkest day!! But I say that it's always darkest before the dawn, so maybe this will be my finest hour!! The moment of truth is coming!! Now excuse me as l go back to work as Taoiseach of the Country!!! 🤣