Still smiling, still inspiring
IAN O’CONNELL WAS PARALYSED FROM THE NECK DOWN OVER TWO YEARS AGO BUT HIS ATTITUDE CONTINUES TO INSPIRE
IAN O’Connell was only 16 when a cycling accident at Killarney National Park forced him onto a wheelchair. While his injuries weren’t life-ending, they were life-limiting and, given his tender age, could’ve easily been life-defining.
But inner strength matched by love and backing from family, friends, and community is a poweful thing. Ian would, naturally, love to go back to August 2017 and send his life along a different course, but he has also learned that even the most dreadful situations can lead to some good.
He had a choice, as he puts it himself: he could’ve kept asking ‘Why me?’ but instead asked ‘Why not me?’.
“I was in hospital and I saw how bad the situation was,” the Spa clubman tells The Kerryman in Killarney’s Great Southern Hotel, just hours after receving a Civic Reception, the council’s highest honour. “They were telling me the extent of my injuries, and I had my choice then.
“I was either going to leave it get to me and feel sorry for myself, or use it to motivate others and help others.”
He pursued the latter and made a success of that. Even over the course of this relatively short interview, three people step in at different times to congratulate Ian on his Civic Reception, bestowed upon him for “his courage and positive attitude in the face of adversity”. Among his wellwishers is Independent Councillor Charlie Farrelly, who tells him he’s “a right inspiration”.
“That’s what pushes me,” Ian says after Cllr Farrelly’s kind words. “It’s then you realise you’re touching people with your story... It means a lot.”
Since overcoming some dire predictions – it was initially thought he could be on a ventilator for life, but he came off it within 80 days – and a nine-month hospital spell, Ian has become well-known to the public through newspaper, radio, and television appearances, not least via his own podcast and a superb interview on the grand-daddy of Irish shows, the Late Late.
He’s now in Leaving Cert year in St Brendan’s College, and it won’t cause even the mildest shock to hear he’s eyeing up a career in radio broadcasting after this summer’s exams.
His situation has brought into focus challenges in everyday life that, understandably, he hadn’t noticed before autumn 2017. Some of these have cropped up in his studies. But, as his way, he doesn’t make a whole lot of them.
“On my computer, they’ve a lot of technology and stuff so, I’ve this thing, you speak and it will just type it out,” he says of his Leaving Cert preparations.
“Technology is getting so good nowthesedays, itmakeslifesoeasy.
“But there are some small things [in everyday life that can pose challenges]. It’s only when you’re in a wheelchair that you notice things like accessibility on footpaths, cars parked with two wheels up on the footpath. You can’t pass then.
“As I say, they’re small things, and I don’t want to be giving out about them, but it’s only when you’re in this situation – it’s eye-opening.”
When asked about his physical condition, he looks down at his arm: “My left hand, I can lift it up a bit,” he says, hovering it inches above his wheelchair armrest. It may be a movement that most take as a given but, for Ian, it’s of course a spectacular success.
“Unbelievable [the day he could move his hand again]. It’s crazy that, when they didn’t give me much of a chance...you realise that the physio and stuff is paying off. It makes you try harder and harder again.
“I’m doing physio every day. I’ve done as much as I can. I go to Cork twice a week for intense weight physio. I’m putting in the work and it’s paying off. Hopefully I can get the two hands back. That’s the aim.
“Mentally, I’m fully in focus, blinkers going straight. I’m feeling good in myself as well, like: stronger and healthier.”
It’s late of a Friday, and tomorrow night Ian will travel to Dublin for Bellator 240, a Mixed Martial Arts event, at which he’s hoping to once again meet the world’s most divisive sports star, Conor McGregor. ‘The Notorious’ has alienated more and more of the Irish public in recent times but, to some credit, maintains contact with Ian through Instagram, the 18-year-old explains.
McGregor is part of an ever-lengthening roll-call of celebrities to have met and felt impressed by Ian. It’s a list that also includes Michael Fassbender and former world darts champion Gary Anderson.
Ian can’t stand up, but he has, evidently, stood out – with more than a little help from those a little closer to home.
“The support I’ve received since the accident is second to none,” he says. “It’s unreal how people can rally together when something bad happens in the community. Family and friends have been there since day one. I can’t thank them enough and, every day, more and more people are rowing in behind me.
“I’m going to keep going and try as hard as I can for them.”