Nikki Bradley to be appointed to Seanad by Taoiseach

Nikki Bradley is to be appointed to the Seanad by Taoiseach Simon Harris.

The inspirational amputee, motivational speaker and disability rights advocate will succeed Regina Doherty, the former Seanad leader who was recently elected to the European Parliament for Fine Gael.

Ms Bradley was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer, when she was 16 years old, and has had two hip replacements.

The adaptive adventurer and cancer survivor underwent rotationplasty surgery in The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham in 2022.
The procured involved removing the middle part of her right leg with the lower leg reattached at the thigh - but rotated 180 degrees. This was prior to having a prosthetic fitted.

The Seanad appointment will now heighten speculation about her being possible candidate for Fine Gael in the next General Election with Fine Gael Deputy Joe McHugh to step down.

It is hoped that her appointment will mean that people with disabilities will have a voice in Leinster House.

Disabilities, mobility issues, the defective concrete blocks scheme and education services are believed to be among the key issues.

Previously, Ms Bradley has completed quite the list of feats, including abseiling off Fanad Lighthouse and climbing the Sólheimajökull glacier in Iceland.
She also completed a 4 Peak Challenge that saw her climb Carrantoohil, Croagh Patrick, Slieve Donard and Errigal back-to-back - inside 32 hours.

In June 2023, she completed the Vhi Women's Mini Marathon, on crutches.

Ms Bradley is the founder of ‘Fighting Fit For Ewings’, which aims to increase awareness about the disease as well as participating in physical challenges. She is also an ambassador of No Barriers Foundation, which is a not-for-profit organisation based in Letterkenny.

Their aim is to create an inclusive health facility equipped with specialist neurological equipment allowing anyone with a disability to train and improve their current level of physical and mental health by targeting mobility, strength and physical fitness regardless of their current baseline.