They say every cloud has a silver lining. Never was this truer, because I got to meet up with a lot of my MS and Me pals last Saturday. We had a lovely lunch and a chat, and I spent those few hours soaking up the joy of being able to meet up in person.
There is an energy from meeting up with people who share your experiences, who understand the symptoms, the worries, and the anger that MS can bring. These people are my friends, who just happen to have MS. The negative that brought us together, gave way to the positives that friendship brings.
It’s safe to say I enjoy meeting other people with MS, and I am so pleased that the MS Ireland Conference is going to be an in-person event again this year. I have missed going to them, and I am looking forward to going on 16th September.
If you’ve never been before, I’d really recommend coming along. I always learn something, and I enjoy meeting up with people on the day. You can bring someone with you too, it’s not just for people with MS, friends and family are welcome also.
Here’s a run through of what you can expect on the day:
The conference is on Saturday, 16th of September in The Radisson Athlone. It starts at 10am but registration opens from 9am. The cost is €30 to attend, which includes a light lunch. It finishes at 4.30pm.
I try to arrive about 9.30am. It gives me a chance to find where I am going! Registration can feel a bit crowded and busy, so I like to take my time going in and getting my bearings. It only takes a few minutes to get registered. Normally I’ll run into someone I know and have a chat. I sometimes go on my own, so that always feels a bit daunting, but once I get there, I am fine. There is usually a cup of tea or coffee available during registration too.
The Conference opens at 9.45am with a Welcome, so I like to go into the conference room and pick a seat where I can see the stage but also be able to easily nip out if I need one of my frequent toilet breaks.
From 10am – 11.30am, the first talk will be in the main room. This year, the talk will be given by Dr Hugh Kearney, Consultant Neurologist from St James’ Hospital Dublin. He is going to speak about “Silent Progression in MS.” I am really looking forward to this talk.
From 11.45am – 12.45pm, attendees can choose to go to one of the following workshops – these will be in other rooms, but you’ll be told where to go and have plenty of time to get there. The options are:
- Fatigue Management Workshop
- Mental Health Toolbox for MS
- Benefits, Entitlements and Financial Awareness in MS
The workshops usually are a bit more interactive than the main conference talks, with attendees able to share experiences and ask questions. Don’t worry if you don’t want to speak or if you have no questions to ask though! Nobody will ask you to do anything like that.
I think I will go to the Fatigue Management Workshop in the morning. I think I’ll benefit from learning how to manage my fatigue better, and I’ll hopefully pick up some tips and advice from others.
1pm-2pm – break for lunch – this will be in the restaurant area of the hotel. It will be informal, and you can sit anywhere you want. People will have time to eat and chat to others at their table. If you have any dietary requirements, you can let the organisers know at the time of booking your place at the conference. I’ll include all that information at the end of this blog.
From 2pm - 3pm – we’re back in the workshops. So, in total you can pick two of the topics you want to attend and go to one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. I am going for Mental Health Toolbox for MS.
From 3.15pm – 4.15 pm – it’s back to the main room again for the final talk of the day. This talk will be given by Dr Brendan Kelly, from Radiology in St Vincents University Hospital. He will talk about “MRI and How We Measure the Immeasurable in MS.” I am really looking forward to this, as I am always fascinated by what shows up on my MRI.
Conference End – after the final talk, the conference will come to an end. By this stage I am usually knackered, but a bit buzzy from all the stuff I’ve learned and from meeting people. I’ll probably snooze all the way home!
Some Information about the Venue:
· The Radisson in Athlone and all the conference spaces are fully accessible.
· The hotel a 10-minute walk or few minutes in a taxi from the Athlone train station.
· There is accommodation available if you want to stay over, but you need to book it yourself by phoning the hotel. There is a special rate for conference attendees -B&B Double/Twin rate €160 and B&B Single rate €145
You should mention the MS Ireland Conference when you call the hotel to get this rate. The hotel’s number is (090) 644 2600
Booking your place at the Conference:
· You can book your place online here or you can download the booking form to register by post.
· The cost is €30 to attend, which includes lunch.
· Make sure you highlight any dietary requirements you might have when booking.
· Make sure to book two workshops.
· There will be people from MS Ireland there all day to answer any questions or give directions – they will have their red t-shirts on.
I hope to see you there
Niamh
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