THE INSPIRE INTERVIEW: I was never told I was different I was always just Sinead

by Louise Walsh

She may be small in size but after receiving an invitation to the White House and securing the official introduction of a new phrase into the Irish language, she is proving herself to be huge in stature!

Sinead Burke makes you smile. It’s as simple as that.

The 26-year old Navan PhD student’s 3ft 5inch frame is brimming with so much confidence, enthusiasm and optimism that you just can’t help yourself beam.

She talks 90 to the dozen about growing up in Navan, attaining her dream as a primary school teacher, becoming Ms Alternative Ireland, going back to college and blogging that you have to shout, pause, stop and rewind.

Sinead was 12 when she moved to Kilcarn Court in Navan with her parents, Birmingham native Chris, mum Kath and her four younger siblings Natasha, Niamh, Chris and Chloe.

Starting secondary school is a daunting task for any hormonal teenager but when you’re a little person, is that challenge even more fraught with problems?

“Not at all,” she said flippantly. “Moving schools was always going to be a challenge but I was so lucky as the teachers in St Michael’s Loreto were open to having a conversation with me and my parents about my needs both physically and academically. “They were eager to make sure I had what I needed to be most comfortable and so school was a wonderful experience.”

“I was never one to be embarrassed anyway,” she continued. “I was never the quiet or shy child. I was very vivacious and effervescent and you always knew I was there. “I find that children and young people are so much more accepting than adults and have yet to be blinkered by society.

“There may have been a moment or a second when I walked into the classroom first that there may have been a nod to me being different “But after that moment, I became just Sinead. “It’s the same as someone who wear glasses or someone with freckles. You look, your mind absorbs the difference and you move on.” Sinead has retained that ethos in all aspects of her life and is often bemused when people ask her when she noticed that she was different. “I was never told that I was different. I was always just Sinead.

“The only thing I noticed growing up that was unusual was the light switches in our house were lower and the taps were at the front of the sink. “I never had a problem with asking people for help from an early age, I adapted to the physical environment really early on.”

Sinead was born with a genetic condition called achondroplasia, which she inherited from her dad, who is also a little person. Her mum and siblings are all of average height.

Achondroplasia affects the conversion of cartilage to bone in early development, resulting in short arms and legs. However, her parents have always instilled in Sinead a positive attitude no matter what.

“They gave me a belief and confidence and a worth that I could do anything that anyone else could do. I may have to manoeuvre myself a little differently but it should never stop me.

“It was always really ingrained in me what it means to create a society which is accessible to everyone.” Clutching onto those beliefs and adding some hard work, Sinead aimed high and was successful in achieving her dream job. “I knew from the age of four what I wanted to do. I always wanted to be a primary school teacher. “When I sat my Leaving Certificate, I had one choice on my CAO form, C001 – the course code to study at Colaiste Mhuire, Marino at which I secured my place with an A in both Higher Level English and Irish.”

After graduation, the primary school teacher then went on to study an MA in Broadcast production for radio and television. And her thirst for knowledge has now led her to Trinity College where she is currently studying a PhD in the School of Education.

It’s pretty safe to say that Sinead’s parents are a huge inspiration and adored role models and she’s extremely proud of their work in establishing the Little People of Ireland foundation, which recently celebrated its 18th anniversary. LPI is the national charity in Ireland for people with restricted growth, providing fundamental information and support to improve the quality of life for people of restricted growth and their families.

“About 200 people from all over Ireland gathered in a hotel in the middle of the country in recent weeks for a mix of workshops. These people are just so inspiring and amazing” So inspiring and amazing that just last week, Sinead’s continuous attempts to campaign for the little person has resulted in a new Irish language phrase to represent them – duine beag.

“I’ve been liaising with Foras na Gaeilge on behalf of the LPI about introducing ‘little person’ to the Irish dictionary.

“They made it official on November 9th. Is duine beag me.” Under her blog name Minnie Melange she is also the Alternative Miss Ireland emeritus and continues to write posts on her passions, which include music, culture and fashion. She makes no secret about the fact that despite her love for fashion, shopping wasn’t made easy with out of reach clothes rails and changing room locks. However her voice on fashion and disability issues are highly regarded and she was asked to travel to New York last month to offer advice to top design companies on creating clothes inclusively from the outset for smaller people. She met with teams from top brands such as Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren as board member of the Inclusive Fashion Design Collective, the first fashion trade association for people with disabilities. Her advocacy for a more inclusive attitude in the fashion industry was even rewarded with an invitation to the White House in September.

The White House hosted #DesignForAll – a panel discussion and fashion show that celebrated inclusive design, assistive technology and prosthetics. Attending industry leaders made a commitment to actively recruit a more diverse portfolio of models.

Home from the US and it’s back to Navan where Sinead finds escape. “I feel that I’m so lucky to live in Navan. I’m just off the Dublin Road on the door of the River Boyne and I can commute to Dublin in just under an hour.

“I spend so much time in the city that it’s such a haven to come home in the evenings and get away from the noise.

“I know Navan is a big town but there still is a lot of space and nature to enable you to just switch off. “My name is Sinead Burke. I am a PhD candidate, a primary school teacher, a broadcaster, the alternative Miss Ireland emeritus, a blogger, a public speaker, a friend, a niece, a cousin, a sister and a daughter. I’m me.