Shannon O’Farrell-Molloy is a 28-year-old disability advocate from the Sunny South-East of Ireland. She has Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, and a mild learning disability, and is passionate about promoting inclusion, independence, and opportunity for people with disabilities.

Shannon attends Cumas New Ross, a local day service, and works at the Apex Leisure Centre in New Ross. She is an active member of the Wexford Special Olympics, Irish Wheelchair Association Sport, and the Gusserane All Stars football team — a new inclusive initiative within the Gusserane GAA Club.

In addition to her community involvement, Shannon is a member of the Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) Panel at Trinity College Dublin and has taken part in a Trinity College study on bone health for people with disabilities.

Through her public speaking and advocacy work, Shannon shares her story to inspire others and raise awareness about the importance of accessibility and support. She believes that with the right supports, great things are possible, and she is dedicated to making a positive difference in her community and beyond.

David Cahill is a dedicated disability advocate from Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan. His previous roles include serving on the Cavan Public Participation Network (PPN) Secretariat and the Board of Cavan Sports Partnership, where he represented the interests of people with disabilities. David is a passionate supporter of Ireland’s athletes with disabilities and takes great pride in celebrating their achievements including medal successes at the 2024 Paris Paralympics and the 2025 World Championships especially Para Swimming, Para Cycling and Para Athletics.

In his role as Brand Ambassador for Active Disability Ireland (ADI), David hopes to collaborate with National Governing Bodies (NGBs), Local Sports Partnerships, and other key stakeholders. His focus will be on  enhancingboth the quantity and quality of participation opportunities for people with disabilities across all levels of sport and the role ADI can play in making this happen.

David is also committed to advocating for balanced regional development of sporting infrastructure. He strongly supports the commitments set out in the Programme for Government and the National Sports Policy, and is particularly focused on advancing these goals in the Northwest, Central Border, and North Midlands counties regions he will prioritise in his work as Brand Ambassador over the coming years.

Chloe Whelan is a 21-year-old Irish dancer and sports enthusiast from Ireland. Throughout her life, she has taken part in a variety of sports, including horse riding, football, and GAA, but Irish dancing has always been her greatest passion. 

Chloe made history as the first visually impaired World Champion Irish Dancer, a remarkable achievement that reflects her dedication, resilience, and love for her sport. In April this year, she was part of a 19-person dance drama team that won at the World Championships. 

Beyond her success on stage, Chloe values the friendships and connections she’s made through sport, many of which have become some of her closest relationships. She credits sport with having a hugely positive impact on her mental health, helping her set goals, stay active, and build confidence. 

As an ambassador, Chloe hopes to inspire others by showing that anything is possible with determination and belief in yourself.

Liam Beville is Ireland’s greatest deadlifter (pound-for-pound) for the past 33 years and a six-time deadlift world record holder. Competing entirely in mainstream sport, Liam has achieved unparalleled success despite having a disability. In 1992, he deadlifted 310 kg at a bodyweight of 75 kg at an IPF international competition — a lift that remains unbeaten in conventional deadlift and equalled Ed Coan, widely regarded as the world’s greatest powerlifter, at the same bodyweight. Liam is the only Irish powerlifter to hold a Guinness World Record and currently holds the #1 world ranking for the deadlift in competition. He has won multiple gold medals at World and European Powerlifting Championships and numerous Best Lifter awards, inspiring athletes and communities worldwide with his resilience and determination. 

Career Highlights: 

• #1 ranked powerlifter in the world for the deadlift in able-bodied competition 

• Six-time world record holder in the deadlift across four weight divisions 

• Guinness World Record holder – only Irish powerlifter to hold one 

• Multiple gold medals, World Powerlifting Championships 

• Multiple gold medals, European Powerlifting Championships 

• Multiple Best Lifter awards at national and international competitions 

• Coordinator for Powerlifting at the 2003 Special Olympics World Games, helping to bring powerlifting to Ireland 

• Key figure in introducing powerlifting to Ireland through the Special Olympics World Games (2002–2003) 

Johnny is a close friend of the organisation and is inspired by the work that they do. Johnny has reflected on the work that the organisation has done and often reflects and wishes that he was aware of their work when he first acquired his disability.

“I always say that it would have been so beneficial to me back in 2006, as a boy who acquired a life changing injury, if I know of their existence – it would have taken the initial blow of the unknown if I could turn to an organisation such as Active Disability Ireland and to lean on and help me get back on track”.

At the age of 17 Johnny had a workplace accident that resulted in a complete spinal injury. Since then he has been fortunate with the support and mindset that he has developed to ensure that the opportunities to continue to participate in sport and physical activity are still there for him. Johnny acknowledges that the support he needed in the early years of his disability weren’t always there and understands the importance of highlighting to others what is possible.

Johnny has excelled in his sporting ambitions over the last 17 years and has gone onto establish and captain the first wheelchair basketball senior team in Kerry. From 2008-2010 he represented Ireland at the World Pool Championships in Ireland and the UK and currently is an active hand cyclist.

In 2011, after playing 6 times for Irish province Leinster, McKinley was forced to retire from rugby union after losing the sight in his left eye. After his retirement, he moved to Italy to work as a coach for junior sides. However, despite the blindness in one eye, McKinley made a return to rugby in 2014 in Italy using specially manufactured goggles, firstly with Leonorso in a regional third division match, in which McKinley scored 28 points, and then with Viadana on a two-year contract in the National Championship of Excellence, which, in turn, led to him being signed by another Italian side, Zebre as Fly-half cover for the 2015 Rugby World Cup and 2016 Six Nations Championship. Shortly afterwards, McKinley was signed by Treviso ahead of the 2016–17 Pro12 season.

Since McKinley never played a game for Ireland before his first retirement, having spent three years in Italian rugby made him eligible to represent Italy on the international stage. Italy’s head coach Conor O’Shea included McKinley in his squad for the 2017 Summer Tests, but decided not to field him in any game. On 11 November 2017, however, Ian McKinley played his first international game for Italy, in an Autumn Internationals test match against Fiji, subbed in after 62 minutes for Carlo Canna. Italy won that game 19-10, with McKinley scoring the last goal kick.