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Orla Tinsley

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Orla Tinsley is an Irish journalist, campaigner and multimedia artist.[1][2]

Work

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Tinsley began writing for The Irish Times on the state of cystic fibrosis care in Ireland in 2005 when they were 18. Their work launched a decade-long campaign to improve awareness of and healthcare services for cystic fibrosis in Ireland. The campaign became a nationwide community effort, sustained by Tinsley's articles in The Irish Times about lack of facilities, the deaths of friends, and the stories and energy of people with CF and their families and communities around Ireland.[3]

In September 2008, for their work they were named Rehab Young Person of the Year[4] In April 2009, they appeared on Late Late Show after writing several pieces in The Irish Times holding government to account on broken promises to build an adult cystic fibrosis unit in Dublin.[5] In 2009, they began an internship in The Irish Times. That same year the promised government funding for the cystic fibrosis unit was pulled and the campaign reprised. Several campaigners from the previous had died. Tinsley and other new campaigners featured on RTE Liveline Show which played an important role in the campaign. Tinsley was named Irish Tatler Magazine's Woman of the Year [6] in 2009. In 2010, they were awarded the Young Medical Journalist of the Year award.

Producer and writer

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In April 2011, Tinsley presented, co-wrote and researched a special documentary for RTÉ's flagship current affairs programme Prime Time to apply pressure for building to begin at St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin.[7]

Author

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In September 2011, their memoir Salty Baby : A memoir was published by Hachette. The Sunday Times described the book as "gonzo journalism". It was shortlisted for Best Newcomer at the Bórd Gáis Irish Book Awards.[8]

Activism

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The Adult Cystic Fibrosis Unit campaign

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In July 2012, after campaign work over numerous years, a dedicated Cystic Fibrosis Unit opened.[9] The ward block has an outpatient and inpatient facility for people with cystic fibrosis.[9] It also has a floor of isolation rooms for people with cancer and another floor for those with infectious diseases who need isolation.[9]

Similar units have opened in Cork University Hospital and University Hospital Limerick.[10][11]

Transgender rights

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Tinsley identifies as queer and non-binary.[12] In 2012 and 2013, Tinsley focused on the rights of transgender people to attain gender recognition in Ireland. They were named Broadcaster / Journalist of the Year by the Gay and Lesbian Association in 2013.[13]

New cystic fibrosis drug

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In late 2012, Tinsley launched a campaign to get Kalydeco into Ireland after experts rejected making the drug available because it was too expensive. The drug is the first to treat the cause of cystic fibrosis and not just the symptoms.[14] In February 2013 the Minister for Health announced that the drug would be made available.[15]

Since late 2013, Tinsley is one of the first people in the world to be treated by the second new cystic fibrosis drug lumacaftor/ivacaftor which treats the most common mutation of CF. The drug has proven to improve lung function and health for people with CF.[16]

They attend dialysis at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in Dublin.

Personal life

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Tinsley received a double lung transplant in December 2017.[2]

Media

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Tinsley features in an Irish documentary Orla Tinsley: Warrior, which follows the process of their double lung transplant in New York in 2018.[17] In 2020 the film was nominated as a finalist in the New York Festivals TV and Film Awards.[18]

Awards and honours

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References

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  1. ^ "Kildare's All Time Greats: #13 Orla Tinsley". Leinster Leader. Naas. 23 January 2019. Archived from the original on 29 June 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  2. ^ a b McMahon, Aine; Pollak, Sorcha (21 December 2017). "Orla Tinsley in recovery after double lung transplant". the Irish Times. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  3. ^ Kerrigan, Gene (27 May 2007). "When people are dying for Ireland.(COMMENT)". Sunday Independent. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  4. ^ a b Carter, Erica (3 December 2021). "Orla Tinsley's fight for cystic fibrosis care and double lung transplant". RSVP Live. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  5. ^ "RTÉ Television - the Late Late Show - 3 April 2009". RTÉ.ie. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Woman of Year: Cystic fibrosis campaigner honoured". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  7. ^ "Prime Time – 12th April 2011 (VIDEO)". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 12 April 2011. Archived from the original on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  8. ^ "RTÉ Television - the Late Late Show - 16 September 2011". RTÉ.ie. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  9. ^ a b c "Cystic fibrosis patients transferred to new €22m facility at St Vincent's". RTÉ News. 30 July 2012. Archived from the original on 9 November 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  10. ^ "Evening Echo — Cystic Fibrosis unit to finally open at CUH after months of delay". Archived from the original on 21 October 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  11. ^ http://www.clare.fm/news/new-adult-cystic-fibrosis-unit-be-opened-regions-main-hospital-today[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ Tinsley, Orla (27 September 2021). "Your One Wild and Precious Life: Something for everyone". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Galas 2013 Winners". Queerid. 28 February 2013.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^ "Six One News (Web): CF campaigner Orla Tinsley discusses the approval of new CF drug". RTÉ.ie. Archived from the original on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  15. ^ "Department of Health". Archived from the original on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  16. ^ "A Study of Lumacaftor in Combination With Ivacaftor in Cystic Fibrosis Subjects Aged 12 Years and Older Who Are Homozygous for the F508del-CFTR Mutation (TRANSPORT)". U.S. National Library of Medicine. 15 August 2016. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  17. ^ "'Warrior,' Documentary About Current Student Orla Tinsley, Finalist for New York Film Award 2020". Columbia - School of the Arts. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  18. ^ "Finalists List - New York Festivals". tvfilm.newyorkfestivals.com. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  19. ^ "Irish Healthcare Centre Awards 2013". 2013. Archived from the original on 9 November 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  20. ^ "Dr Orla Tinsley receives Honorary Doctorate - UCD College of Arts and Humanities". www.ucd.ie. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
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