Mr Jamie Googan

Co-founder

Jamie is from Clonakilty, Co Cork, Ireland.

Jamie started to stutter in early childhood, he is a former National Champion in Tae Kwon Do and a proud member of the Irish Stuttering Community. Having struggled with the challenges of stuttering for almost twenty years, Jamie reached out and asked for help. Speaking powerfully now, Jamie has transformed himself and actively advocates for Stuttering and Mental Well-being Awareness. During his time working at Munster Technological University, Jamie set up the first mental health initiative for twenty-two secondary schools in the Cork community. Jamie is the author of "Access The Students Voice" and is often featured on radio and TV promoting Stuttering Awareness and Mental Wellbeing issues. Jamie has represented the Irish community all over the world and has addressed Irelands highest ranking members in the political sector on stuttering.

Mr Con Hurley

Co-founder

Con is a native of Skibbereen and a proud graduate of University of Galway and University College Cork. He is a teacher by trade and since 2008 he has taught in Clonakilty Community College. He also regularly leads professional development workshops for other teachers. He has long championed issues surrounding inclusion and student voice. He is married to composer Emily Magner Hurley and lives in his native West Cork.

Mr Michael O'Shea

Co-founder

Born in 1955, Michael is married to Monica. Together they have two sons and seven grandchildren. They live in Kilkenny, Ireland. Michael has been challenged by stuttering since the age of four. He is the author of "Why I Called My Sister Harry" which was researched and published in 2007. Michael is a long standing advocate for members of the stuttering community world wide, he has presented at numerous International stuttering conferences on four continents over the past fifteen years. Michael was the co-founder of "The National Stuttering Awareness Day" in Ireland which launched in 2007, and is a former board member of the Irish Stammering Association. 

Mr Michael Ryan

Co-founder

A native of Templemore, Co. Tipperary, Michael is married to Fran and together they have two sons Shane and Edward. Michael has had a stutter since early childhood and has experienced and overcome the fear, isolation, loneliness and lack of confidence associated with stuttering. He is a former Mayor of Templemore, former chairman of the Irish Stammering Association and a long standing advocate for the stuttering community. Michael has made representations to Irish President Michael D Higgins and leading politician's in Ireland and around the world.


Ms Emily Magner Hurley

Stuttering advocate and technical support

Emily is a native of Whitechurch, Co. Cork, and now lives in West Cork. She is a composer-soprano, and secondary school teacher. She contributes soundtracks to SAMWI video messages, and is the SAMWI website creator. She has an MPhil in Composition from University College Cork. 

Child Safeguarding Statement

The members of Stuttering Awareness Mental Wellbeing Ireland are committed to the safeguarding of young people.

As a consequence, it members have committed to the following practices;

  • Should a young person under the age of 18 attempt to engage with the organisation, it is explained to them immediately that no engagement with them can take place in any form regarding the support Stuttering Awareness Mental Wellbeing Ireland has to offer without an adult being present.
  • In the course of a prearranged meeting with a minor and their parent(s)/ guardian(s), should the parent(s)/ guardian(s) wish to leave the meeting, even momentarily, that meeting will be suspended immediately until they are able to return and they will reinitiate the meeting.
  • The members of Stuttering Awareness Mental Wellbeing Ireland are committed to completing child protection training in the field of child safeguarding in line with the requirement of Children First Act (2015) and the associated legislation.