IASLT in Conversation

This episode features conversations with 6 poster presenters from IASLT conference 2026. You’ll hear from David O’Shea, Emer Murphy, one of our poster prize winners, Aine O’Brien, Marion Toland, Sarah Musgrave and Karen Culleton and then our last conversation is with Patricia Gillivan Murphy.

This episode features Sinead, Katie and Patricia who are Practice Education Coordinators in both undergraduate and postgraduate Speech and Language Therapy courses. They talk about entry requirements, clinical placements and the practical aspects of being a student SLT.

Orlaith Maher, an SLT working with Down Syndrome Ireland, talks about her experience of being diagnosed with tongue cancer at the age of 25

In this episode were talk to Zelda Greene, Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist in neonatology. Zelda was the first SLT to be appointed to the Dublin maternity hospitals and has been working in the National Maternity Hospital in Holles Street since 2021. Zelda has a long history of working in hospitals including Tallaght and Crumlin hospital and teaches in Trinity College Dublin on th...

In this episode, we talk to Emma Wall, chairperson of the current IASLT conference committee. IASLT conference will be held on the 21st and 22nd of May in the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise. Emma tells us more about the conference and what we can expect. Early bird registration is now open.

In this episode we speak to the 2024 winners of the IASLT Postgraduate Research Award for submissions to the IASLT journal Advances in Communication and Swallowing. David O'Shea and Dr Dominika Lisiecka worked on this paper called: Speech and language therapy services for autistic children in Munster: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of parental experiences and expectations” . This work...

In this episode, we speak with Stephanie Okafor, a recently graduated Speech and Language Therapist. Stephanie speaks about her hopes and the challenges of being a new Speech and Language Therapist.

In this episode we talk to Shona McEachern who is living with a highly aggressive form of Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis and is using Assistive Technology to help her communicate and control her environment. She is joined by speech and language therapist Caroline McLoughlin and clinical engineering technician Alan Joyce from Enable Ireland.

In this episode we speak with two final year Speech and Language Therapy students Aine and Holly about the profession, the importance of student placements and the work of the Clinical Therapies Society in UCC.

In this episode we talk to Anne Horgan and Anne Tangney, both of whom retired from their role as SLT Manager of Cork North and South Primary Care SLT Services respectively in 2024. Both graduates of Trinity College Dublin, they reflect on their time as SLTs over the last 30+ years and discuss how they would like to see the profession to develop into the future.

In this episode we are speaking with Irene Walsh, recently retired Associate Professor of Speech and Language Therapy in Trinity College Dublin. Irene discusses her career as a Speech and Language Therapist from being in the first SLT class in Trinity College to the highs and lows of her career as a clinician, author and associate professor.

Today we are speaking with Pauraic Ryan, a Senior SLT working on the Neurosurgical team in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin. Pauraic discusses his journey to his current role, his day to day work in the department and the fascinating role of SLT in awake craniotomies.

In this episode, we are speaking with Gina O'Donohue, retired Speech and Language Therapist who has spent 40 years working in the Irish Health Service. Gina reminisces on her career, covid, promoting the profession and the importance of connection in today's world.

In this episode we speak to the 2024 winner of the IASLT SLT Support and Mentor Award, Deirdre Kidney from St. Vincent's University Hospital. Deirdre was described as a trailblazer for SLT's in Ireland. She was nominated due to her excellent clinical skills as well as her incredible ability to provide guidance and mentorship to students, young therapists and senior SLT's - in addition to the wider...

Tom qualified as a Speech and Language Therapist from the University of Galway in 2012. His SLT journey has seen him venture from London to the English Lake District, to Edinburgh, and back to Ireland in 2020. He is currently a Little Voices Programme Coordinator with ABC Start Right in Limerick, supporting schools, crèches and community organisations to implement universal and targeted SLT strate...

In this episode, Sean Pert shares his experiences of gendered expectations of how to interact with clients on placement, the benefits of being a male SLT where male clients and fathers find it easier to identify with a male SLT, having to invent your professional persona because of a lack of role models in the profession, and breaking down barriers for men to enter the profession by having convers...

In this podcast, we delve into Abbie's experience of cultural diversity in the HSE community and SLT in particular. She shares how this diversity shapes her daily work life, especially as she supports clients during some of their most vulnerable moments. Abbie hopes that this conversation shines a light on what is often a significant blind spot for those who don’t face these challenges daily. Her...

In this podcast we talk about David's experience as one of the few men in a career dominated by women. We discuss the management of clients with different cultural backgrounds and the importance of fostering an environment where everyone can feel welcome. David highlights that the job of a speech and language therapist is not to change a person's cultural identity or their accent but to help them...

In this episode we talk to the 2024 winner of the IASLT Unsung Hero Award, Aideen Lawlor, SLT Manager from St Mary's hospital in Dublin. Aideen was nominated by her colleagues who said that she has helped countless patients with communication and swallowing impairments in St Mary's Hospital in her role as the SLT manager. Under her guidance her team has expanded and the services provided have incr...

In this episode we talk to Dr Áine Kearns, Associate Professor at the School of Allied Health at the University of Limerick, and the 2024 winner of the IASLT Service Excellence Award. Áine was nominated because she has demonstrated excellence in developing a postgraduate training for SLTs who wish to offer a specialist additional service to vulnerable witnesses in the Irish Criminal Justice System

IASLT in conversation chats with four SLTs working in the area of FEES: Patricia Gillivan Murphy, Clinical Specialist based in The Mater Hospital Dublin, Sheila Robinson, SSLT based in Cork University Hospital, Ciara Landy, SSLT based in Our Lady's Hospital Navan and Monica Clancy, SSLT working in community-based FEES service within Mid-West Community Healthcare.

In this episode we talk to Anne Healy from the IASLT about the MRA process and what is involved.

In this episode we talk to Caroline O'Flynn SLT who is the social media co-ordinator for this year's IASLT conference. The conference will be held online on December 5th and 6th and will showcase the best of Irish SLT research and practice. Register today to secure your place! https://www.iaslt.ie/learning-centre/iaslt-biennial-conference-2023-registration-now-open/

On this episode we talk to Siobhán ward Lynch, Senior Speech and Language Therapist and Practice Tutor based in Letterkenny Primary Care centre. Siobhán is the 2023 winner of the SLT Support and Mentor award from IASLT.

Today we are talking to Aoife O’Shea, Senior Speech & Language Therapist working with Happy Talk in Cork, and the 2023 winner of the Speech and Language Therapy Service Excellence Award. Aoife was nominated as she has developed relationships, inspired confidence and skill and brought so much joy to the people that she works with, while managing to carry out research, present at conferences, de...