A Roscommon man’s inspiring role in pioneering a thought-controlled wheelchair after receiving a groundbreaking brain implant has prompted a group of former classmates from his native Moore to organise a solidarity walk next month.
Eoin Egan (43), who has lived and worked in London since 2009, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in June 2020.
In December 2025, Eoin became one of just 23 people worldwide - and the only Irish patient - to receive a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) implant as part of a clinical trial. The implant, fitted during a six-hour surgery, connects to his laptop computer via Bluetooth and enables him to control it using thought alone by interpreting brain signals linked to imagined movement.
Within days of the surgery, Eoin, alongside his wife Jenny and sister Ethel, adapted the technology to operate his wheelchair.
Their innovation, developed in conjunction with German assistive technology company, Homebrace, has led to what is believed to be the first successful demonstration of a wheelchair controlled purely by thought.
Eoin’s former classmates are organising a 5k solidarity walk, which will take place next month.
Since the Roscommon Herald shared his remarkable story in May, the father-of-two said he has been “overwhelmed” by the huge level of support and good wishes.
Now his 1995 classmates from St. Ciaran’s NS in Moore have come together to organise a special meet up and 5k solidarity walk next month.
“Our first aim is simply to stand together as a community and show our friend that he is not on his own,” said his classmates.
The ‘Shine a Light for Eoin’ walk takes place on Friday, July 10th, starting at the Moore United soccer grounds (N37 FK25) in Falty, Moore. The meet-up is at 9.30 p.m. with the walk commencing at 10 p.m..
On the night, the pitch will be lit up with candles and the evening will be recorded so that Eoin and his family will be able to see the support surrounding them. Fundraising events are being planned to support him and his family, beginning with a spinathon.
A Facebook Page ‘Light for Eoin’ has also been set up to share information about the walk, related messages, photos and fundraising updates.
