Search icon

News

13th Aug 2015

A young Cork teenager has been shortlisted in the top 20 young people in the world

Fair play to her

Conor Heneghan

And you can help make sure she makes the top ten.

A teenager from Millstreet in Cork has been shortlisted as one of the top 20 young people in the world by Junior Chamber International.

Joanne O’Riordan gained inclusion in the prestigious list thanks to her work as an activist for disabled rights, having previously caught the eye in 2011 when publicly challenging the Government for cutting funds to people with disabilities.

Joanne is one of only seven people in the world with Total Amelia, a congenital disorder characterised by the absence of all four limbs.

Joanne has addressed the UN about the importance of technology in her life, is working with Trinity College to create a robot to help her in her everyday life and previously appeared on the Late Late Show to talk about her condition.

It wasn’t only Tubs that Joanne managed to charm, she captivated the nation with a memorable performance. She sounds like some craic too!

People can vote for Joanne to try and ensure that she is shortlisted in the top ten and in with a chance to win an award that has been won by the likes of John F Kennedy, Henry Kissinger and the great Jackie Chan in the past.

For more information and to cast your vote for Joanne, click here.

All the best with it Joanne, we’re all rooting for you.

Main pic via Facebook/No Limbs No Limits Documentary/Film

Hat-tip to Red FM

LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Conor Sketches | Tiger Woods loves Ger Loughnane and cosplaying as Charles LeClerc