Health Board: upcoming conferences, talks, campaigns and events

TV presenter Lisa Cannon is supporting the ‘Kiss Goodbye to MS’ campaign. Using the hashtag #KissGoodbyeToMS, Multiple Sclerosis Ireland is hoping to raise funds during May for MS research and essential services. Text KISS to 50300 to donate €4. See kissgoodbyetoms.ie. Photograph: Marc O’Sullivan
TV presenter Lisa Cannon is supporting the ‘Kiss Goodbye to MS’ campaign. Using the hashtag #KissGoodbyeToMS, Multiple Sclerosis Ireland is hoping to raise funds during May for MS research and essential services. Text KISS to 50300 to donate €4. See kissgoodbyetoms.ie. Photograph: Marc O’Sullivan

1) Billed as Ireland's only sustainable and ethical exhibition for parents of babies, the Earth Baby Fair will be held at the Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth, Co Kildare, on Sunday, April 29th, 10am-4pm. As well as sustainable/ethical products, the fair will host talks and workshops on breastfeeding and living a simpler, de-cluttered life. It is organised as a fundraising event for the cloth nappy library, a not-for-profit company promoting modern cloth nappies as an alternative to disposable nappies. Admission is €5 per adult and under 16s go free.

2) If you've had lung cancer or cared for someone who has, you might be interested in partaking in a study led by Dublin City University. The Irish Cancer Society-funded researchers want to understand the physical and emotional needs of lung-cancer patients so the charity can adapt its services to best address them. Contact Dr Andreanne Cochrane on (01) 700 7762 or email andreanne.cochrane@dcu.ie for more details.

3) How to smell a (lab) rat is the catchy title of a public talk on pseudoscience on Wednesday, May 2nd, at 6.30pm. Researchers Joseph Roche from Trinity College Dublin and Declan Fahy from Dublin City University will talk about spotting the warning signs of pseudoscience. Admission is €5, with booking on Dublin.sciencegallery.com

4) The Kildare-based children's charity Sensational Kids now provides speech and language therapy for children with additional needs on Wednesdays from 10am-noon at the Clonakilty GAA Club, Aghamillia, Clonakilty, Co Cork. Later this year, Sensational Kids plans to open a new centre in Clonakilty with occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, play therapy, and psychology. Call (045) 520 900 for more details. Sensationalkids.ie

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5) Mental-health organisation Awareinvites 18-26-year-olds impacted by anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder to their free Young Adults' Support & Self Care Groups at 9 Upper Leeson Street, Dublin 4, every Thursday at 7.30pm and at Inniscarraig Centre, Western Road, Cork, every Wednesday at 8pm. In the groups, people share their experience and exchange thoughts and techniques around self-care. Email supportmail@aware.ie or call freephone 1800 80 48 48, 10am-10pm.

6) A gathering of stroke survivors takes place on Tuesday, April 24th in Croke Park from 10.30am- 4pm. It is the Irish Heart Foundation's sixth annual National Stroke Survivors' Day. Niamh Malone, stroke survivor and founder of Brainy App, will chair the event. At 11.30am, Irish Heart Foundation CEO Tim Collins will welcome 400 stroke survivors The afternoon will be dedicated to a selection of workshops covering a range of topics, such as aphasia, social welfare, fatigue management, relationships after stroke, mindfulness, music therapy, secondary prevention and stress management. To reserve a place at this event, mail Laura Quinn on lquinn@irishheart.ie or call 01 668 5001.

sthompson@irishtimes.com

Sylvia Thompson

Sylvia Thompson

Sylvia Thompson, a contributor to The Irish Times, writes about health, heritage and the environment