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11 Feb 2026

Limerick TD recalls being 'curled up in a ball' as he opens up about living with epilepsy

Speaking to Claire Byrne on Newstalk radio, Minister Patrick O’Donovan discussed his experience of epilepsy, from the impact of the condition on his family life to his decision to speak publicly only after reaching Cabinet

Minister of State Patrick O'Donovan reflects on health scare

Minister of State Patrick O'Donovan

LIMERICK TD and Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O’Donovan has said he lived for years with violent epileptic seizures while being repeatedly told there was “nothing wrong” with him, fearing that a public diagnosis would end his political career.

Speaking to Claire Byrne on Newstalk radio to mark International Epilepsy Day, Minister O’Donovan gave a detailed account of his experience of epilepsy, from early warning signs that went unrecognised to the impact of the condition on his family life and his decision to speak publicly only after reaching Cabinet.

"I want to show people that you can have a neurological condition and have a perfectly normal life in the sense that you can operate. I'm only one of fifteen people in the country that has a seat to sit at the cabinet table... The reason that I didn't speak openly before 2025 about my epilepsy was I was terrified that people wouldn't vote for me and that my prospects of being promoted would have hit the bin," explained Mr O'Donovan.

"One of the things I wanted to prove to myself and to others, before I spoke about this publicly, is that I've possibly achieved the highest position that I'm ever likely to achieve in the sense that I'm a member of the government, and it hasn't in any way impeded on me once I manage it."

READ MORE: Update on plans for new facility to tackle overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick

Despite this, O’Donovan said fear of stigma kept him silent for years. He believed disclosure would damage his electoral prospects and block promotion. It was only after becoming Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications and Sport that he felt compelled to explain why he avoided cinemas, theatres and concerts — environments that can trigger seizures due to lighting.

One of the ongoing side effects of his medication is a pronounced stutter, something he said is deeply embarrassing and unpredictable. He recalled doing recent media interviews while struggling to speak, fearing that pulling out would lead to criticism from the public or opposing parties.

Mr O'Donovan stated: "I used to be kind of ashamed of it because, again, no more than probably most of the population in Ireland, I was ignorant of what it is to have a neurological condition and used to view people with a neurological condition as being unfit to hold positions of seniority."

O’Donovan said his children have witnessed him during seizures and described the toll the condition has taken on his family. 

"My kids have lived with this. They've seen me on the floor curled up in a ball and not being able to communicate, getting a sedative so that my muscles relax, and that I have to sleep for the following twenty-four hours. They've had to live with it. My wife has had to live with it. My brothers and sisters have had to live with it."

Mr O’Donovan said his symptoms began over a decade ago, with severe trembling, pins and needles and exhaustion, but were initially dismissed. In the run-up to the 2016 general election, he suffered what he described as a “massive” seizure and was taken to hospital, where he was told he was simply overtired and sent home.

"I was delighted because I was worried that there was something wrong with my heart or that I was having a stroke or something like that," explained the Limerick TD.

However, the episodes continued, becoming longer and more violent, leaving him physically exhausted. Despite multiple hospital admissions, Mr O'Donovan was repeatedly told nothing was wrong.

"I was being curled up into a ball, and I was having violent seizures that were lasting maybe forty-five minutes longer. I'd be absolutely exhausted after them."

It was only after Mr O'Donovan's wife and GP persisted that he was referred to Beaumont Hospital, where neurologist Professor Norman Delanty diagnosed him with epilepsy within minutes of assessment in 2016. Mr O’Donovan said he had likely been undiagnosed for years.

Following diagnosis, he went through multiple medications, many of which caused severe side effects. His condition worsened again several years later when he collapsed with another major episode, losing his speech and sight before being taken to St James’ Hospital.

Mr O'Donovan later entered the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit at Beaumont Hospital, where doctors confirmed he had deep frontal lobe epilepsy, primarily triggered by tiredness.

He said the condition fundamentally altered his life and requires strict discipline around sleep and work. “I got disciplined more for the sake of my wife and children than for any job,” he said.

"My trigger is tiredness and I've also triggers around flashing lights."

While he has received overwhelming public support since speaking out, Mr O’Donovan said ignorance around disability and leadership still exists. He has stepped back from X, (formerly Twitter) citing the cruelty of online discourse, and now limits his social media presence.

"Evacuating X was probably the best thing I ever did because at least people don't have a direct access to slagging you off when you have a disability."

Despite ongoing anxiety about fatigue, travel and medication schedules, Mr O’Donovan said he has no regrets about going public.

“If the worst thing I have now is a stutter,” he said, “it’s not that bad compared to where I was.”

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