A powerful new photographic exhibition aimed at raising awareness of the often-overlooked condition haemochromatosis will open to the public today (Saturday) at Millennium Court in Portadown.
Overloaded – Haemochromatosis Awareness Exhibition forms part of a wider screening and awareness campaign by Haemochromatosis UK and brings deeply personal stories to Northern Ireland through striking imagery and lived experience.
Also known as iron overload disorder, haemochromatosis is a genetic condition that causes the body to absorb too much iron from food, which can then build up in vital organs including the liver and joints. If left untreated, it can lead to serious health complications.
The touring exhibition, titled We Are Overloaded, features photographs of people living with the condition, captured by Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Cathal McNaughton. Each image is accompanied by personal testimony, giving a voice to those managing what is often described as a “hidden” illness.
Among those featured is Finbar Polin from Gilford, who was diagnosed with haemochromatosis during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking previously about his experience, he said he had never heard of the condition — sometimes referred to as the “Celtic curse” — before his diagnosis.
“It’s scary initially because it affects you mentally; you don’t know where you are going with it,” he said. “But being part of the charity and meeting other people with it has really helped. That’s where I think the exhibition is really powerful — each picture is a person with a story.”
Mr Polin has also spoken about how haemochromatosis can affect everyday life, explaining that while iron is something people encounter constantly — in street furniture, buildings and objects — many are unaware that excess iron inside the body can cause liver disease, severe joint pain, fatigue and brain fog.
The condition is inherited, passed down when both parents carry a faulty gene, and while there is currently no cure, early diagnosis and treatment can significantly reduce long-term health risks and help people live full lives.
Campaigners behind the exhibition hope it will encourage people to seek testing and spark conversations about early detection, particularly as it is estimated that as many as one in ten people may carry the gene linked to the condition.
Opening this afternoon at 2pm, the exhibition is free to attend and open to everyone. Organisers say the aim is simple but vital: to raise awareness, encourage understanding and remind the public that behind every diagnosis is a real person and a real story.
Overloaded – Haemochromatosis Awareness Exhibition is on display at Millennium Court, Portadown, from today.
