Who am I?

I'm Miriam Carroll, 37 years old, and living in Dunlaogaire, Dublin.

I was born in 1973 with very mild Cerebral palsy. It effects the left side of my body, but has never effected my life in anyway! I went to Enable Ireland primary school in 1976 till 1985 which is based in Sandymount, Dublin. They help children with disabilities, in all sorts of ways. The movie My Left Foot was made there. Myself and a few other people were the first disabled group to cross the border between the Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland, in 1985 during the troubles. My parents, and Enable Ireland felt that it would be more beneficial for me, to move from that school to a mainstream primary school near me, which was Johnstown school in Killiney. I spent the last two years of primary school there. I was the only disabled child in that school at the time, and made lots of friends there.

I started secondary school in Rockford Manor Blackrock in 1987. I wasn't very academic, but loved art, Geography, and English. "Everything else was pretty much forgotten about". I was the only disabled person in that school. Some of  the teachers especially my P.E. teacher put me forward for a McDonalds Child of Achievement award for doing well at school.  Mike Murphy who was a presenter of RTE Television gave me this award in Kilmainham hospital, Dublin. When I was in third year my art teacher was showing my art work to sixth year students. My parents asked me after third year if I wanted to move to a more creative school, but I said "no cause I liked the school I was in, and only had two more years left". I did want to go to the National College of Art and Design but never did well enough at exams to do so. My art teacher told me never to give up art when I left school which was 1991.

When I left school at 18, like most people didn't know where I was heading, but alway's knew it was something to do with art. My brother's are working at art, and my sister's into acting, so were all interested in it.

A couple of years after I left school my mum heard a friend of mine Mary on the radio, who was talking about an art group which she was and still is involved in, for disabled people called Eye Contact. My mum told me about it. At the time I wasn't that keen in joining, but went once, and here I am 16 years later in the same group every Saturday morning. We are now based in the Cheshire Homes Monkstown, but were based in the old Carlisle building where the boats used to go out in Dunlaoghaire pier. "We used to think it was haunted because it was freezing, and the wind was howling through the building". Anyway the art class is having their 20th anniversary this year. I'm now the treasurer, and myself and Mary help in the organising side of things. We all have great respect for our art teacher, Alan. We have met other art groups in the area which Alan also teaches and have had exhibitions with them. I've also presented a painting to Mary McAlease the Irish President a few years ago with the National Disability Authority, which was a great honour for me.

Also with the art group we've had many painting trips around the country such as Kinvara, County Clare, Achill Island, Co Mayo and in Wicklow, Waterford, etc.  I've also taught elderly people watercolour and acrylic painting in a local Nursing home.  Since I've shown some of my work to different people, and on facebook, it was mentioned to me that I should set up my own website or blog. "Well here it is."

Thank you for taking the time and interest to read my blog.