Donegal Mum Deborah Hannigan Wins VAVA Award for Special Needs Advocacy
Deborah Hannigan Wins Parenting Influencer Award at VAVA Awards
Deborah Hannigan, a Lifford mother of three who documents her family life online, won Family and Parenting Influencer of the Year at the 2026 VAVA Awards in Belfast last weekend. Donegal Daily reported that the beautician, who runs The Glam Room, has reached 300,000 followers on TikTok while shining a light on the realities of raising a child with additional needs.
The online presence began two years ago when Hannigan started sharing short videos offering a glimpse into daily life with her husband, Keith Gamble, and their family. Her youngest child, Ezrah, who turns 13 this month, has trisomy 12p and global developmental delay, a rare genetic disorder. Ezrah is believed to be the only child in Ireland living with the condition.
Through her content, Hannigan features everyday moments like getting Ezrah ready for school, family shopping trips, and housework, alongside the emotional and physical demands of caregiving. She told Donegal Daily that she initially wanted to help people understand why daily routines might not always go to plan.
“I just wanted to share a wee bit of our life so that people would understand us more and be a bit more lenient when things aren’t going right,” Hannigan told Donegal Daily.
Building a Global Community for Special Needs Families
As her follower count grew, messages started arriving from parents in similar situations asking about equipment, sleep, and everyday care. Hannigan’s audience now spans Australia, America, Croatia, Poland, Cambodia, and the Philippines. She noted that unless someone cares for a child or adult with additional needs, they often do not understand how lonely the experience can feel.
While the videos show upbeat moments and family dancing, Hannigan is open about the harder days. She stated that there are times she sits and cries because the challenges can be tough. To manage the pressure, she and her husband tag-team responsibilities when caregiving becomes overwhelming.
The content also serves to educate teachers, carers, and siblings. Hannigan highlighted one message from a sibling of a special needs child who expressed gratitude for the videos because they finally understood what their mother went through over the years.
Campaigning for Better Respite and School Places in Donegal
Following her win at the VAVA Awards, Hannigan intends to use her expanded platform to push for systemic changes regarding disability services. She pointed out that Donegal lacks sufficient facilities for children with additional needs, noting that families urgently need respite care and suitable school places.
Hannigan and Gamble currently receive about 14 to 16 days of respite each year for Ezrah, who loves attending school at Little Angels, though they know other families who receive none. She recounted fighting for more than a year to secure respite during a period when Ezrah was struggling with sleep and frequent crying.
Reflecting on her journey, Hannigan recalled fighting to have her concerns taken seriously from Ezrah’s earliest days, when the baby was born limp and missing milestones.
She hopes to connect with decision-makers to help bring about change for parents caught in what she described as a limboland.