Despite suffering a life-changing stroke in 2013, Deirdre O’Reilly refused to give up and found solace in painting, writes EMMA CONNOLLY

When Bandon woman Deirdre O’Reilly suffered a catastrophic stroke just before Christmas 2013, doctors told her family not to hold out much hope for her survival.

They clearly didn’t know the resilient mum-of-two, and the lengths she was prepared to push herself to recover for her daughters who were aged four and five at the time.

Now 13 years later, in further proof that she’s a force to be reckoned with, her first art exhibition is on show in the Grey Heron Bandon, after she turned to painting as part of her incredible come back.

Deirdre was 43 years old and working as a journalist with The Evening Echo when she had a stroke at home on December 22nd.

‘I remember we were called into the family room in CUH and being told by doctors that things weren’t looking good for Dee, and that if she survived she’d need 24 hour care,’ her brother Liam recalled.

And initially things didn’t look good. Deirdre was left paralysed on her right side, and spent around six months in CUH, before being transferred to the national rehabilitation hospital in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, for several months’ further treatment, followed by a stay in Farranlea nursing home in Cork.

‘A stand out moment for me, and I still remember it clearly to this day, is when I went with Dee to visit a nursing home, after that to see what her options were. She was still mainly using a wheelchair at that stage, and she just looked around and looked back at me, and I could tell straight away by her face that she wanted out of there,’ said Liam.

Getting home was always what kept Deirdre motivated, and she wasn’t going to settle for anything less. Despite the cards she had been dealt she intended to live life to the full.

A fundraising campaign launched by her friends and family raised €180,000 to help cover costs associated with her changed circumstances, and Liam emphasised how ‘incredible’ the people of Bandon, and beyond, were.

Among the many events held was a sell-out concert in City Hall featuring some of Cork’s best known performers. The massive response to the campaign was a reflection of the high regard Deirdre is held in, throughout West Cork.

Before joining The Evening Echo she worked with C103fm and while at The Echo she spearheaded fundraising campaigns that raised over €1 million for several worthwhile charities.

‘What goes around comes around,’ said Liam. ‘She helped so many people and they wanted to give something back to her.’

Deirdre loved to talk, to tell stories, she loved performing and was involved in amateur dramatics as a talented actor.

With her trademark determination (Liam jokingly calls it stubbornness), and working closely with personal trainer Seán O’Leary she got back on her feet, and back driving by 2015; but she didn’t recover her ability to read, write, or speak more than a few words after the stroke.

However, 13 years on, the 55-year-old has learned how to have her voice heard, even if at times it can be slow and frustrating – but she won’t have words put in her mouth. It helps that text messages can be converted to voice messages and phone calls to family and friends are always done on FaceTime.

Deirdre has a part time personal assistant, fellow Bandon native Geraldine Larkin – Liam describes her as Dee’s guardian angel. They’ve been working together since 2014 and know each other inside out.

And they both agree that there’s a long way to go before people with a disability feel included in society. Deirdre says sometimes she feels on the outside of certain situations, with some people uncomfortable with her challenges. However, with Deirdre the emphasis is always on the positive, and she never wants to be called disabled.

‘She won’t even park in a disabled spot,’ says Liam. Pity doesn’t come into it for his courageous younger sister, he says.

Deirdre nods emphatically: she remembers life before her stroke, but she’s made peace with what happened to her and does take strength and comfort from her belief in a greater power, whatever that might be.

Liam jumps in: ‘With Deirdre it’s all about the ‘now,’ not what’s gone already. It’s all for the love of life, and discovering new
things.’

Geraldine adds: ‘There’s no tiny violins for Deirdre … except maybe at the trad sessions she enjoys.’

Deirdre’s motivation throughout has been her love for her daughters, Maggie (19) is studying nursing, and Hannah (18) is doing her Leaving Cert. She overcame every obstacle for them, and along with the rest of her family, they’re very proud of their mum’s exhibition.

With no previous experience in art, she turned to painting as part of her rehabilitation, guided and encouraged by artist John Jermyn, based in Fennell’s Bay and encouraged by trainer Seán.

Her art is not only a personal triumph but an invitation to see beauty in resilience and hope in renewal.

With Deirdre pointing to her heart, Geraldine says that part of the attraction for Deirdre is that her art comes from the heart, not the head.

Deirdre nods, but rolls her eyes and laughs, almost in embarrassment, when she’s described as an artist.

She’s pragmatic and doesn’t see it as a way of communicating or reinventing herself. She simply says it makes her feel calm, and it’s something for herself.

At least it was until brothers Philip and David McLoughlin of The Grey Heron offered to host her first exhibition – and with her paintings flying out the door, it’s obvious many other –people want a piece of Dee in their homes too.

Deirdre’s work is on display at The Grey Heron gift shop and gallery until March 2026.