NDA-funded research on diverse disabled election candidates published

Today, the University of Galway and Trinity College Dublin hosted a webinar to launch their new research report entitled "Disability, Diversity and Identity in Ireland’s Local and European Elections 2024". The research focused on the experiences of disabled candidates who identified as holding intersecting identities and who stood in the Irish local and European elections in 2024.

The qualitative research involved in-depth interviews with seven disabled political candidates with intersecting identities, and representatives from eight organisations representing migrant, LGBTQ+ and Traveller communities, disabled people’s organisations, and education and training organisations.

This research was funded by the NDA under its 2023-2024 Research Promotion Scheme, the theme of which was ‘Disability in Marginalised Groups and Communities’.

At today’s webinar, Dr. Aoife Price, Dr. Vivian Rath, and Prof. Eilionóir Flynn, the lead researchers, provided an overview of the research findings. The NDA’s Senior Research Officer, Dr Carly Cheevers, also spoke at the event. Other speakers included Colette O’Regan (LGBT Ireland), Zoe O’Reilly (National Traveller Women’s Forum) and Amy Hassett (Disabled Women Ireland). The event was chaired by Liam Herrick, Chief Commissioner, IHREC, and Art O’Leary, Chief Executive, Electoral Commission acted as Rapporteur.