Lifford Mother Honored for Online Advocacy on Special Needs Parenting
Deborah Hannigan, a Lifford mother of three, won Family and Parenting Influencer of the Year at the 2026 VAVA Awards in Belfast. She shares daily life with her youngest child, Ezrah, who has trisomy 12p and global developmental delay, and has built a following of 300,000 on TikTok. Hannigan also campaigns for better respite care and school places in Donegal.
Deborah Hannigan lives in Lifford and balances parenting three children with running a beauty business, The Glam Room. Her youngest, Ezrah, turns 13 this month and has trisomy 12p plus global developmental delay; she has said he is believed to be Ireland’s only child with that rare genetic condition. She began posting family videos two years ago.
Her TikTok following has reached 300,000, and viewers now come from Australia, America, Croatia, Poland, Cambodia and the Philippines. She and her husband, Keith Gamble, receive roughly 14 to 16 respite days annually, while Ezrah attends Little Angels school.
Hannigan’s award and large online following may broaden public awareness of rare disabilities and caregiving demands. Families in Donegal and elsewhere could feel seen, while educators, carers and siblings may gain insight into daily challenges. Her platform may increase pressure for accessible respite and school provision, though the extent of policy change remains uncertain. The story could also strengthen peer support networks for parents navigating similar diagnoses.