• Question: Who inspires you ?

    Asked by marcy to Jean, Kate, Enda, Tim on 15 Nov 2012. This question was also asked by sinr1, sezzieandleah2012, giantmellow, ciaramolloy.
    • Photo: Jean Bourke

      Jean Bourke answered on 15 Nov 2012:

      Ooooh lots of people to be honest. There are many people that I admire for various reasons. I find many of my friends inspiring for what they have done and how they deal with their difficulties and problems.

      When I read interviews in magazines or newspapers that have been through hardship (like overcoming severe illnesses, disability, the loss of loved ones, problems growing up, financial difficulties etc) to become happy fulfilled, successful people I feel really inspired to make the most of what I have. I also feel very lucky to be where I am.

      A model, Katie Piper, who got acid thrown in her face and is now disfigured had a really good tv program called “Katie: my beautiful friends”. I find her truly inspirational, she had everything going for then had something terrible happen that seemed to take it all away. Instead of just giving up, she fought on and now helps many people come to terms with disfigurement and also help others get over any prejudices they may have. She and I want the same thing: to help people, we are just trying to do so in different ways.

      There are many successful people to look up to but often if you just look around you’ll find wonderful people to inspire you.

    • Photo: Enda O'Connell

      Enda O'Connell answered on 16 Nov 2012:

      @marcy, @sinr1 and @sezzieandleah2012

      That’s a good question and not something I’ve really been asked before. I suppose early on I was inspired by some of the scientists I read about working in dangerous conditions like the first people to work with the Ebola virus and the people who eradicated Smallpox (check out Richard Preson’s books “The Hot Zone” and “The Demon in the Freezer”). They were putting their lives at risk every day trying to understand these viruses and as a secondary school student I was amazed at their ability to be cool under pressure when they were working in extreme conditions.

      I also started reading Richard Dawkins’ books explaining evolution and was both inspired by evolution and how it perfectly explained the natural world but also by the scientists working in the area and the really clever experiments they came up (there are lots of experiments with bees and fruit flies!).

      These days every time you pick up a newspaper or watch the news or a science show like Dara O’Briain’s Science Club, there is a story of a breakthrough that can benefit mankind, be it in genetics, cancer research, physics, alternative energy or something else. These scientists inspire me every day and the great thing is that they live amongst us!

      There is a lot of great research being carried out on your doorstep by people like Jean and Kev and Tim and all the other “I’m a Scientist…” scientists and thousands of other scientists around the country. There are also lots of great companies in Ireland that are putting these discoveries into use by manufacturing medicines, biomedical devices and equipment which are used in medicine and other areas.

      So, thankfully I’m not short of inspiration, and always have a reason to get out of bed in the morning!

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