Kilkenny woman with cruel disease meets TDs after years of being 'ignored'

A local lyme disease awareness advocate, Ann Maher met with TDs and Senators ín Leinster House on Wednesday as she continues her fight against the cruel disease.

Amongst those present were Carlow-Kilkenny TDs John McGuinness (Fianna Fáil) and Natasha Newsome-Drennan (Sinn Fein).

Maher has battled the illness and its severe side-effects for over 29 years and has proven to be a continuing vocal champion for those inflicted with the condition.

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The little-known disease is a bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected ticks and is usually easier to treat if it’s diagnosed early. Many people with Lyme disease can be treated by antibiotics by their GP but some may experience long-lasting, life debilitating effects.

Most people with early symptoms of the disease develop a circular red skin rash around a tick bite, but that isn’t universally the case and treatment can prove complex due to many unknowns in the medical profession.

"After all these years, will anything improve for us lyme disease patients? I'm not sure, but isn't it a good start after years of being ignored?" Maher told Kilkenny Live.