{"id":507723,"date":"2026-01-11T04:37:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-11T04:37:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/507723\/"},"modified":"2026-01-11T04:37:16","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T04:37:16","slug":"thousands-in-ni-being-offered-testing-for-celtic-curse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/507723\/","title":{"rendered":"Thousands in NI being offered testing for Celtic curse"},"content":{"rendered":"

Niall McCrackenMid Ulster reporter, BBC News NI <\/p>\n

\"HaemochromatosisHaemochromatosis UK<\/p>\n

Finbar Polin was diagnosed with haemochromatosis in 2020<\/p>\n

Thousands of people in parts of Northern Ireland are being offered free testing for a disorder commonly known as the Celtic Curse.<\/p>\n

Haemochromatosis is the most common genetic disorder in Northern Ireland and is mostly found in people of Irish and Scots ancestry.<\/p>\n

The disorder means a person is more at risk of absorbing too much iron and it can start to damage other parts of their body.<\/p>\n

Symptoms can range from chronic fatigue, joint pain, memory issues, abdominal pain and skin conditions. If left untreated it can lead to serious long-term health complications.<\/p>\n

\"Neil<\/p>\n

Neil Irwin works for Haemochromatosis UK and was diagnosed with the condition seven years ago<\/p>\n

BBC News NI previously reported on concerns that not enough people were being tested for it in Northern Ireland because of the cost<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Department of Health’s current policy is to screen for genetic haemochromatosis when a patient shows symptoms.<\/p>\n

But a charity has said it is hoping to capture more information on areas of Northern Ireland where people may be undiagnosed. <\/p>\n

Haemochromatosis UK will offer up to 23,500 households free genetic screening in Irvinestown, Portadown, Ballymena and Magherafelt.<\/p>\n

Neil Irwin works for Haemochromatosis UK and was diagnosed with the condition seven years ago.<\/p>\n

He says early diagnosis is key to allow people access to effective treatments.<\/p>\n

“In recent years we have had anecdotal evidence from areas like Mid Ulster where people have been contacting us saying their area seems to have high rates of haemochromatosis,” he said.<\/p>\n

“But there is a lack of official data, so we’re looking to fill in some of those blank spots in Northern Ireland that have never screened before, to paint a more detailed picture of the prevalence of the condition.”<\/p>\n

‘I knew something was wrong’<\/p>\n

Collette McKnight is a mother of three who lives in rural County Down.<\/p>\n

She was diagnosed with haemochromatosis in 2019.<\/p>\n

“I would have had severe fatigue and pains, but I just would have put it down to being busy with the children and things like that, “he said.<\/p>\n

“But then I started to develop heart palpitations and I knew something else was wrong.”<\/p>\n

\"Collette<\/p>\n

Collette McKnight was diagnosed with haemochromatosis in 2019<\/p>\n

She added: “When the tests came back confirming haemochromatosis, I hadn’t a clue what it was.<\/p>\n

“Everyday is different. Some days it’s joint pain, other days it’s breathing problems, but it’s always dealing with the severe fatigue and that can be very difficult.”<\/p>\n

She is now treated with therapeutic blood removal, which helps lower iron levels and ease symptoms caused by the condition.<\/p>\n

What is the Celtic curse?<\/p>\n

The gene mutation that causes most cases of hereditary haemochromatosis is believed to have originated in the Celtic population of Europe.<\/p>\n

DNA analysis of the genomes of a Bronze Age farmer on Rathlin Island off the coast of County Antrim showed that it was already established by that period.<\/p>\n

Earlier still, the remains of a Neolithic woman found at Ballynahatty near Belfast show that she carried a different variant also associated with an increased risk of the disorder.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"DanielDaniel Bradley, Trinity College Dublin<\/p>\n

Excavated near Belfast in 1855, the Ballynahatty woman lay in a Neolithic tomb chamber for 5,000 years<\/p>\n

As part of the latest screening campaign, Haemochromatosis UK is bringing a touring photographic exhibition to Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n

The exhibition, We are Overloaded, opens to the public at the Millennium Court in Portadown on 19 January.<\/p>\n

It features a photographs of people living with haemochromatosis by Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Cathal McNaughton<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Finbar Polin, from Gilford, is featured in the exhibition and was diagnosed with haemochromatosis during the pandemic.<\/p>\n

\"BBCBBC News<\/p>\n

Finbar Polin is from Craigavon and is featured in the exhibition<\/p>\n

Speaking to BBC News NI, he said: “I’d never heard of the Celtic curse until I was diagnosed. <\/p>\n

“It’s scary initially because it affects you mentally; you don’t know where you are going with it, but being part of the charity and meeting other people with it has really helped.<\/p>\n

“That’s where I think the exhibition is really powerful, each picture is a person with a story.”<\/p>\n

On the issue of screening, the Department of Health said it was guided by advice from UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC).<\/p>\n

Among its recommendations on haemochromatosis, UK NSC stated that there was “limited evidence on whether treatment is more effective in individuals without symptoms, compared with those who have symptoms”.<\/p>\n

But Haemochromatosis UK believe it is important to create an accurate picture as possible of the number of people living with the condition.<\/p>\n

\"Three<\/p>\n

The We are Overloaded exhibition features the photos and stories of people living with haemochromatosis<\/p>\n

Previous research by the charity suggests that as many as one in 10 people are at risk in Northern Ireland of genetic haemochromatosis.<\/p>\n

The charity previously ran a campaign to fund and offer thousands of households in Belfast, Carrickfergus and Londonderry with free self-test kits.<\/p>\n

A Haemochromatosis UK genetic testing kit usually costs about \u00a3130.<\/p>\n

The latest kits being rolled out by Haemochromatosis UK were purchased with donations and funding received by the charity.<\/p>\n

\"Haemochromatosis<\/p>\n

Haemochromatosis UK will offer up to 23,500 households free genetic screening<\/p>\n

Businessman James Hagan, founder of Hagan Homes, is one of the donors.<\/p>\n

He said: “Someone very close to me was recently diagnosed with genetic haemochromatosis \u2014 despite having no symptoms.<\/p>\n

“Their experience highlights exactly why this campaign is so important. Most people affected have no warning signs, yet the potential consequences can be extremely serious if the condition goes undetected.”<\/p>\n

Haemochromatosis UK has said that in the coming weeks and months , households in the relevant postcodes will receive information about genetic haemochromatosis.<\/p>\n

In the package they will be offered a free genetic test, alongside access to counselling to help them understand their results.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Niall McCrackenMid Ulster reporter, BBC News NI Haemochromatosis UK Finbar Polin was diagnosed with haemochromatosis in 2020 Thousands…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":507724,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[210,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-507723","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-health","8":"tag-health","9":"tag-united-states","10":"tag-unitedstates","11":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115874617818911928","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/507723","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=507723"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/507723\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/507724"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=507723"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=507723"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=507723"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}