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Fiacre Ryan (16) has autism and is non-verbal. Since his parents discovered an experimental method of communication called RPM in 2013, Fiacre has at last found a way to express his thoughts and feelings.
His revelations continue to astonish his family and school. Fiacre wrote this himself by dictating it, pointing to letters on a board to spell out what he wanted to say.
I’M A 16-YEAR-OLD student with autism who uses a communication board, telling my thoughts by seeping words from my brain to others. Wanting to explain the mind of one who cannot speak, testimony to a student with understanding, showing the zenith of my intelligence.
Speech is the most wanted thing, yet no words form for me. Sounds try to escape; zealous thoughts try to break through the silent whispering of my world. Some thoughts rest there, and some thoughts escape in spellings on my letterboard.
Each time I tell a piece of my story only heard through silent talked words, written as I edit each sentence, I share understanding with others.
I am verifying people with autism when I write my thoughts
Each time the door opens on a new day I am doubted, but each day I prove my Einstein mind to everyone and yet they stop me using this intellect. Respect those who speak silent words, who have thoughts lost in their minds, and show them what each one sees as we tell our story.
When I first started spelling, I wrote to my mother: “There was once a boy who tried to speak. No words joined him, so he only stopped trying.” Now I like to think that I am verifying people with autism when I write my thoughts.
The world tells me to live the way others live but I am not in their world. I am each day existing through the world of autism, which tells me to understand totally differently to their world.
Yet, I am the student who understands the world better than all the rest.
The everyday world of my existence is a world that can be testing
Tasting things is necessary for me to see if they are safe, smelling things eases my anxiety. I am easily upset when there is noise and shouting.
We stop the noise by escaping into another world that is safe and calming. It may look strange to others, but it is the real world to us.
When I hear others complain of little things, I think that they do not know what it is really like to be tested. I would truly be grateful to have their place.
I am hopeful that I can do my Junior Cert exams. To show that one who cannot speak or write well thinks many thoughts, sees many things, understands everything, and needs the world to assist him to fulfil his potential.
We attempt to communicate, but we need someone to listen to our voice. Some of us are silent but each person with autism is an individual with personality and talent. At school my favourite subject is history, as I see scenes of ancient days and poems form in my head. Writing poetry is calming my thoughts, every verse a story untold.
The Hermit Saint (A skeleton discovered in ancient caves in Newport, Co Mayo)
See the skeleton, our very own story. Everyone passes through when they die, to save the story that we tell to each. Hasten not to this life where ancient stories and someone still rests within the cave, taking their thoughts with them, waiting to wake your rest. Telling the secrets of the past to the people we are today. Eyes open, eyes, thoughts, stories of a holy man.
There are special things in my life that give my senses peace. To walk on the beach, for there I see waves teeming towards distant shores, sand underfoot telling of each who has walked here before.
To cut twigs with my hands and ooze out the sap in my sticky fingers, wet and real. To ride my horse, seeing places from another view, as the horse carries me to wet lands, breathing in the air.
To listen and tell the sounds that belong in my own place. Listening to music rests my thoughts, bringing alive happy feelings.
I keep these in my life so that my spirit restores for weary testing times. Yet my life wanders on day after day, and my world is beautiful.
Fiachre Ryan features in Autism And Me, a documentary airing on RTÉ One, this Monday, March 13th at 9.35pm.
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Cool. Fair play to her. Hope she enjoys her year doing whatever mayors do.
Nothing and just watch the money roll in
Pity about the Party she chose.
lies what about that baby mayor in naas
can you say “in these struggling times”? I feel like I am unlearning all my English
Lol! You’re right… It should be “…in these times of struggle.”
Hmmm, I have to second that sentiment voiced earlier- green party? *shudder*
Me fail english? That’s unpossible!
Good Luck to her!
what an achievement and couldn’t have happened to a more bright and lovely girl
Parks & Recreation anyone?
Yes that was the first thing I thought of when I read the headline!
Shows how downhill things are going when children are elected.
Why shouldn’t young people be elected??? We are the future of this country!!
And how are the adults thus far. Hope this is the start of a trend, too many oldies with a set way of thinking!!
Yep,the older crowd are doing a great job aren’t they?…… Give the younger generation a chance to try dig us out of the shit the older generation have dug us into I say!
Heard her on Colm Hayes this morning. She was very impressive!!
Some posters on here…uggghhhhhhh!!!! :(
Congratulations Mayor Lonergan!
All well and good – but the Green Party??????? C’mon
I see grammar isn’t a requirement of the job!
Paul, I agree.
Unfortunately the standard of spoken english continues to drop.
My 15 and 13 yr old children tell me of their ENGLISH teachers who say things like ‘she done that’, ‘he was sat there’, and ‘I could have went’ as three examples.
‘Done that’ and ‘I seen that’ makes me want to blow a gasket!
@ Paul,
I think it’s “I see grammar isn’t a requirement for the job”! ;)
Many of our politicians are teachers and where has that got us thus far??, its well known that a genius usually can’t spell, grammar won’t save the country from going down the tubes, leadership and innovation is what is needed
Agreed Paul and Johnny. When teachers teaching English begin their lessons with such statements as ” Now here’s deh ting, deh correct pronunciation is dat dat ting over dere, is not deh same as dat ting over dere, then I will regain hope.
To follow up on this (as we detract even further from the article).
I´ve always had a doubt on the ´I´m just after seeing/doing (something)´. A purely Hiberno-English construct?
It´s how we were thought, but seldom heard aside from Irish speakers of English.
Oh, and yeah, fair play to her.
It´s how we were “taught ” … that should be. This is what happens when you don´t use your native language in work anymore. :o
@Johnny Thunder… Their “ENGLISH teachers”? I think you mean their teachers of english ;)
She’d have right Craic down the pub with her big hold chain
The best of good luck Darcy, you are a credit. Keep up the good work and ignore the begrudgers, hope that is spelt correctly.
town mayor
Fair play to her
and the award for the most ”ridiculously stereotypical Hollywood Irish name” goes to………
Come on don’t leave us in suspense! Who?
why not have some infant in a position like mayor? its a banana republic anyways. let her off. carrick is a hole anyways. interesting to read her views on migrants, as not that long ago they had the place terrorized with fighting and generally acting the bolix. good luck with that love. good point made about the so called adults running politics. good luck to her. I seen the ladies of her, I tawt she was lovely an all.
You seem like an upbeat kind of person! Good for you.
How much does a mayor get paid?
Depends on the town. Probably no more than a regular town councillor, which is a couple of grand per year.
Caoimhe Sloan is to be elected mayor of Navan next week and she’s 21.
Nice to see Irish people are taking part in some thing meaniful … rather then just Fashion and useless media shite…..!!! GOOD LUCK to her in her career…
Well done Darcy, dont mind the begrudgers, its time we had some new, young blood in politics, its the old boys in suits toeing the party line that got us into the mess we’re in. Best of luck to you in all your future endeavours!
Ahhh begrudgery , thy name is Ireland
It;s excellent to see an intelligent young woman like Darcy elected. So refreshing from the average male, pale and stale councillor. We need more like her in local politics.
Go away with your sexism.
This is the 21st century.
I thought that it had to be a city that had an elected mayor , not a town.
Nice to see Young Irish people are taking part in some thing meaniful … rather then just Fashion and useless media shite…..!!! GOOD LUCK to her in her career…also best of luck in kicking old greedy narrrow minded people out..!
yeah, you CAN make a difference!!! woohoo!
Just to put on record, I am the Ireland’s youngest ever Mayor when I was elected Mayor of Youghal last year at the age of 22. Might only be few months in it but I was still younger than Darcy when she was elected. Anyway, best of luck to her
Is she also the only non democratically elected mayor in Ireland? Ms Lonergan was co-opted onto the council when the previous two “Greens” jacked in their seats. She has never been elected by the people. The original seat was won via local election. This person packed it in when something better came along. The seat then went to his sister. She too had bigger fish to fry, resigned and so Ms Lonergan took the seat. Young and female is just great. It’s the lack of public say in the matter that curdles my blood. Nepotism, thy name is local Irish politics!!
Shaking hands and kissing babies.
You don’t need to be genius to be mayor.
Just smiley and know what to say.
More Parks,
More Guards,
More Cleaning,
More Money,
More Jobs.
Vote for Me!!
*What’s the bets she gives up on her righteous cause to sit on they money train?
€2000
Odds are 1/9999.
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