As part of the Autumn Season of Documentary on Newstalk, radio producer Susan Dennehy and writer Joanna Marsden have teamed up to create a beautiful audio tribute to one member of Ireland’s first ever Paralympic team, Donegal man, Jack Kerrigan.

While the world’s media prepares for the countdown to the International Paralympic Games that will take place in Rio in September 2016, this documentary gives us a unique Irish perspective on the Paralympic movement by looking back at the very beginnings of The Games.

The beating heart of the documentary and the motivation for producing it are Jack Kerrigan’s previously unpublished personal memoirs. Adapted by Joanna Marsden and brought to life by the actor Mikel Murfi, the memoirs are an incredibly honest account of what it was like to be a wheelchair user in Ireland in the 50s & 60s.

“The first dance I ever attended in a wheelchair was entirely against my will. I had been very fond of ballroom dancing, and I thought it would be sad for me, and embarrassing for the girls I used to dance with if I were appear, like a skeleton at a feast...”

This is the poignant story not just of Jack’s survival, but of the way his life was transformed by friendship, love and sport.

Containing previously unheard original footage of the first Paralympic Games (held in Rome in 1960) as well as a powerful interview with Oliver Murphy, the only surviving member of the first Irish Paralympic team, this documentary gently reveals how The Games changed the way wheelchair users saw themselves forever.

‘A Boy From The North West – The Jack Kerrigan Story’ will air on Newstalk 106-108fm on Saturday October 3rd at 7am. Repeated Saturday October 3rd at 10pm.

‘A Boy From The North West – The Jack Kerrigan Story’was written and researched by Joanna Marsden and produced by Susan Dennehy.

Jack’s memoirs are read by Mikel Murfi and original music is by Andrew Synott. The programme was made with the support of the BAI, Sound and Vision Grant.

 ‘A Boy From The North West – The Jack Kerrigan Story’ can also be listened to online at: www.newstalk.com

Podcast available at: www.newstalk.com/documentaryonnewstalk after the broadcast.

For further information, please contact: Francesca Lalor, Producer of Documentary on Newstalk       

Email: documentaries@newstalk.com