Ireland's youngest TD has said getting diagnosed with epilepsy as an adult was a "frightening experience".

Newly-elected Labour TD Eoghan Kenny was diagnosed with the condition three years ago.

On Newstalk Breakfast, the Cork North Central TD explained why he decided to go public with his health.

"I was getting slightly unordinary episodes in my sleep for three to four months and that concluded with full tonic-clonic seizures during the day," he said

"I went through the procedures of the MRI scan, brain scan and I was told eventually that I was an epileptic and had to go on daily medications.

"It was kind of a frightening experience as such, but there's lots of people that go through an experience like this."

🙌 On Tuesday last, I suffered an epileptic seizure in the studios of RTÉ.
➡️ I wanted to own this story myself, I’m an epileptic and encouraged that it doesn’t affect my job as a Public Rep!
👊 I want to be the next TD in CNC
Vote #Kenny@labour @epilepsyireland @drivetimerte pic.twitter.com/XBusOJTKss

— Eoghan Kenny TD (@EoghanKennyTD) November 22, 2024

Deputy Kenny said he is now "absolutely happy enough" to live with epilepsy as it is manageable.

During the election campaign, the TD became ill in RTÉ's Cork studio moments before he was due to go on-air for a debate.

"I suffered an epileptic seizure while surrounded by [people who] some might consider rivals of mine during the campaign," he said.

"But they came to my assistance very gratefully, along with the staff of RTÉ and two paramedics as well."

It was this experience that prompted Deputy Kenny to be vocal about his epilepsy.

"It’s a story that I wanted to own and one I owned it through social media," he said.

"There’s a lot of people that did resonate with the fact that they might have had epilepsy themselves or family members with epilepsy."

'Politicians are normal'

Deputy Kenny said he wants his experience to remind the public that "politicians are normal".

He also hopes sharing his diagnosis will encourage other people with epilepsy to strive for their ambitions.

"I want to get across to people with medical conditions [that they] can go and seek out their dreams whether it’s public representation or another job," he said.

You can learn more about epilepsy here.

Feature image: Eoghan Kenny (via Labour.ie)