Irish Haemochromatosis Association CLG

09/10/2026

'We are Family', Haemochromatosis UK's Conference in Belfast, was the place to be this week for patients, families, nurses, researchers, clinicians and academics!

Thank you to Neil Irwin, Jonathan Jelley, HUK and all the wonderful speakers who shared and presented on the latest research on genetics, blood donation, hepatology and gastroenterology, long-term health and nursing:

Prof Jim Flett Wilson, Chair of Human Genetics at the Usher Institute in Edinburgh, Dr Shane McKee, Genetic Medicine, Belfast HSC Trust, Robbie Butler MLA Minister of Health for NI, Dr Johnny Cash, Hepatologist at Belfast HSC Trust, Dr Allamedine Allameddine, Medical Director, NI Blood Transfusion Service, Dr Janice Atkins, Luke Pilling and Lucy Banfield, researchers from the University of Exeter and nurses Victoria and Diogo Gomes, HUK.

05/10/2026

'Living with Haemochromatosis'. Great article in The Galway Advertiser with Dr. Paul Grant, a Donegal GP who was diagnosed with haemochromatosis over 20 years ago. Paul is a great supporter of the work of the Irish Haemochromatosis Association and has recently given a talk at our AGM and did a series of Healthy Library talks in Galway city and county. Thank you Paul for putting patients first and raising awareness of haemochromatosis!

https://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/152679/living-with-haemochromatosis
[For Instagram followers, see link in Bio]

01/10/2026

We are offering two complimentary tickets to Haemochromatosis UK's upcoming 'We are Family' event. HUK is inviting patients and their families from all over Ireland, North and South, to attend this event taking place next week on Wednesday 7th October 2026 in the Titanic Hotel, Belfast.

Representatives from the Irish Haemochromatosis Association will also attend. We hope you can join us for what will be a fantastic programme. with great speakers.

Email us by 5pm, Friday 2nd October to be in with a chance to get your free tickets: [email protected]

For more information on the event: https://www.haemochromatosis.org.uk/event/we-are-family-haemochromatosis-uk-event-for-patients-and-experts-hold-the-date

For Instagram followers, link to more information is in Bio on our charity Instagram page

30/09/2026

Calling all members! There is still time to register for our AGM and Guest talk this evening. Our 2026 AGM takes place online via zoom this evening, Wednesday, 30th September at 7pm.

We would love to see as many of our members as possible join us. We are delighted to have Dr. Paul Grant as our guest speaker. Paul was diganosed with haemochromatosis over 20 years ago and has extensive experience as a GP, which he will share with us. There will be lots of opportunities to ask questions at the Q & A session.

The AGM is open to all members of the Irish Haemochromatosis Association.
Register to join us this evening at 7pm:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Ou7IwjEsTXGW86Ysh3awjw #/registration

If you are not already a member or you would like to renew your membership if you have not renewed already, please sign up for membership today - https://haemochromatosis.ie/new-member

Email [email protected] with any questions or for more information. We look forward to seeing you!
[Ps For Instagram followers all links above are in Linktree bio]

25/09/2026

Today is World Pharmacists Day 2026! We know the great work that community pharmacists like Dr. Donna Cosgrove does in her community.

When someone is diagnosed with haemochromatosis, Donna and community pharmacists like her are there to talk about the diagnosis and answer questions the person may have, offering practical information to patients, for example avoiding foods fortified with iron and vitamin supplements containing iron (or large amounts of Vitamin C).

Pharmacists can also offer advice on how haemochromatosis can lead to an increased risk of osteoporosis, so a calcium/Vitamin D supplement may be appropriate. The increased risk of liver damage with iron overload means that some remedies like paracetamol can be harmful.

You can read more from a recent article Donna and Miriam Forde wrote for the Irish Pharmacy Union in June this year here - https://ipu.ie/ipu-review-article/haemochromatosis/ Irish Pharmacy Union

[For Instagram followers, the link is in bio]

22/09/2026

18/09/2026

Margaret Mullett, our Honorary President, Brendan Keenan, voluntary Board Member and Miriam Forde, IHA joined over 1,200 participants at the ExWell Medical Health Fair in Punchestown.

The event was hosted by the amazing Dr Noel McCaffrey, founder of ExWell Medical. Across Ireland, ExWell provides medically-led, community-based exercise programmes for people living with long-term chronic illnesses.

Six expert-led presentations on the day covered topics such as brain health, stroke recovery, the psychological aspects of living with cancer, heart failure peer support. Professor Donal O'Shea gave an excellent talk on diabetes management.

Some words of wisdom and key take-aways from MC, Professor Niall Moyna, 'Wellness, a good balanced diet and exercise is essential as we age and it's all about 'adding life to our years, not years to our life'.

Everyone was put through their paces with lots of options from dance to exercise sessions! Physical activities were tailored to various fitness levels, including supervised rehab and gentle movement options.

Cathal McCrory, Professor in Life course development at Trinity College Dublin, spoke about healthy aging and reminded us that 'You can count the number of years, but don't forget to make the years count!'

If you are living with chronic illness and would like to know more about the ExWell Programme, chat to your GP and ask to be referred to a programme in your area.

10/09/2026

Join Dr. Paul Grant, who lives with haemochromatosis and has extensive experience of being a GP in the community, to learn about the symptoms, testing and treatment of Ireland's most common genetic disorder on the 23rd September at 11.15am at Ballinasloe Library.

Admission is free and everyone is welcome!

Thank you to Healthy Ireland Public Libraries for organising a series of talks in communities and libraries in Galway.

04/09/2026

We're attending Patient Solutions, a Conference with patient voices and patient-led innovation front and centre! Join us in the patient village on Tuesday 3rd November at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin.

We will be in the good company of many other charities on the day, including the Coeliac Society, Irish Heart Foundation, MS Ireland, Sickle Cell Society and many many more!

For more information - https://patientsolutions.ie/pasc2026/en/page/home [LINK IN BIO for Instagram users]