Joanne O’ Riordan is an Irish activist and sports journalist. She works with The Irish Times and other publications on women and racial issues in sport, disability, and her beloved FC Barcelona. She is a recent graduate of Criminology in UCC under a Quercus Active Citizen scholarship.

In 2011, Joanne became a prominent campaigner for disability rights. At the age of 15, she had openly challenged the Irish government on a cut they make in their budget to disability payments. It reversed, and Joanne discovered her passion for activism.

From Millstreet in County Cork, Joanne is one of seven currently living people born with Tetra-Amelia syndrome. She has addressed the United Nations and discussed technology with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Apple.

In April 2012, O’ Riordan spoke before the United Nations in New York City on the use of technology and challenging those present to build a robot for her to use. A standing ovation followed.

She was named Person of the Year in both 2012 and 2013. Her brother Steven made a film of her life, titled No Limbs No Limits. 

https://www.joanneoriordan.com