Bethany Carson

Twenty year old Irish swimming champion, Bethany Carson has had asthma since childhood. As a teen Bethany didn’t want to draw attention to her asthma by taking her inhalers which meant her asthma was poorly controlled. As a result, she suffered an asthma attack at a training camp and two more attacks at gala swimming events.

Experiencing the frightening reality of an asthma attack and seeing the affect uncontrolled asthma could have on her swimming career, Bethany began to follow an asthma management plan. Since then Bethany’s asthma has not held her back from achieving her swimming goals, such as setting the Irish Senior Record for the 100m Butterfly and competing in the Commonwealth Games and European Championships.

You can follow Bethany on Twitter at @BethanyACarson

Barry Murphy

Swimming star and 2012 Team Ireland Olympian Barry Murphy is one of the newest Asthma Society of Ireland ambassadors. Barry was diagnosed with asthma at the age of fifteen, but worked hard to keep it under control and has not let it prevent him from reaching the ultimate in sporting achievements, taking part in the Olympic Games.

You can follow Barry on Twitter at @Barry_J_Murphy 

Brian Gregan

Rising athletic star Brian Gregan has had asthma all his life. Brian rose to prominence by winning a silver medal in the 2011 Under 23 European Athletic Championships. Brian is one of our newest ambassadors and it’s fitting that we should have an athletic ambassador in an Olympic year. Brian was involved in the launch of the ‘Great Open Airways’ campaign in early 2012 with fellow ambassadors John O’ Shea, Ruairdhi Higgins, Niall O’ Carroll & Charlie Murphy.

Brian has not let his asthma be a barrier to his running and he is an on an Elite Athlete Scholarship at University College Dublin. His achievements include 400m national record holder and Athlete of the Year at Junior and U23 levels.

You can follow Brian on Twitter at @BrianGregan89

John O'Shea

Ireland defender and Sunderland captain John  O'Shea has had asthma since childhood. As an Asthma Society Ambassador John has fronted  many of the Society's awareness campaigns over the last number of years including our "Back to School with Asthma" campaign and our "Reach Your Peak with Asthma" campaign.

A wonderful role model for young people with asthma; he is regularly interviewed about being a prominent sports star with asthma and on his work with the Asthma Society of Ireland.

Ronan O'Gara

Ireland and Munster rugby star Ronan O'Gara is an Asthma Society Ambassador who has had asthma since childhood.  He has been involved with the Society's work over the last number of years, launching World Asthma Day in 2009, meeting and greeting Asthma Society competition winners, and speaking about how he controls his asthma in our educational "Reach Your Peak With Asthma" DVD. An inspirational figure for young people who suffer with the condition, his successful career highlights the fact that once asthma is controlled it is not a boundary to reaching your goals.

Ruaidhri Higgins

 Derry City midfielder and Asthma Society Ambassador Ruaidhri Higgins has suffered with asthma all his life. Being a professional athlete, it is almost second nature to him to make sure his asthma is controlled. Ruaidhri has been involved in our World Asthma Day "Change Your Life in 10 Minutes" campaign. Ruaidhri played with Coventry City FC in the late 1990's. It was during this time, he got his asthma under control and since then he has always been in control of his asthma. He has won four League of Ireland medals and one FAI cup with Derry City. He also gives regular interviews on how he controls his asthma and maintains a top fitness level.

Niall Carroll

World Kickboxing Champion, Niall Carroll became the Asthma Society of Ireland's first Youth Ambassador in August 2011. Niall reached the dizzying heights of World Champion at only 12 years of age. Although Niall and his parents struggled to control his asthma when he was very young, once the right asthma management plan was found for Niall, he became heavily involved in the world of kickboxing and excelled from an early age at the sport. Niall fronted the Back to School campaign in 2011. Since then Niall has given many interviews encouraging young people with asthma to take part in sports.

Denis Hickie

Former  Irish rugby player International, Denis Hickie has had asthma since childhood. He has been involved in many of the Society's campaigns, including launching the "2010 Back to School with Asthma Four Week Plan" as well as frequent media interviews discussing asthma control and chairing public meetings on asthma control.  Denis is a powerful and articulate speaker on his own experience with asthma and how he has controlled his condition throughout his life and sporting career.

Colin Moran

Former Dublin Captain of the Senior Gaelic team, Colin or "Collie" Moran has appears in media interviews on Irish television speaking about his asthma and how he controls the condition on behalf of the Asthma Society of Ireland and also launched the "Reach Your Peak with Asthma" DVD in 2008.  Collin was diagnosed with asthma in his early teens.  His doctors devised and asthma management plan after Colin's diagnosis and he went on to be Dublin Captain once his condition was under control. Colin is featured in our "Life Without Limits" gallery.

Brent Pope

 Rugby commentator and TV Celebrity Brent Pope, who was a childhood asthma sufferer, authored the educational children's booklet "The Wheezing Wolf and the Three Little Pigs", available from the Asthma Society of Ireland. Brent has also been involved with the Asthma Society of Ireland's World Asthma Day campaigns.

Frances Franklin

Frances Franklin is a veteran athlete with asthma. On reaching retirement, when most people start to wind down, Frances began her athletic career. When she retired from teaching, she took up marathon running. To date she has completed five marathons. She has taken part in many media interviews and in an upcoming book, as an inspirational figure for people with asthma. To read more about Frances click here.