Media
Journalist’s articles about Jessica's book and campaign in Ireland:THE MAN WHO COULD NOT WALK RAN UP TORK. By Sharon Brown. THE KERRY PEOPLE 31/8/94
HEADS UP FOR THE SILENT EPIDEMIC. By Michelle Breen. KERRY'S EYE. 27/1/95
MILLTOWN GETS DOWN TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER. By Michelle Breen.
KERRY'S EYE. 29/4/04
RECOVERY AFTER BRAIN INJURY. By Jessica Taylor. THE KERRYMAN. 7/2/98
BODY SOUL AND BRAIN. By Anne Lucey. CORK EXAMINER. 8/4/95
FATE IS HELPING ME. By Valerie Sweeney. WOMANS WAY MAGAZINE. 4/8/95
JESSICA MEETS FERGIE. THE KERRY PEOPLE. 24/11/93
KILLORGLIN AUTHOR MEETS ACTRESS FAITH BROWN. THE KERRYMAN. 6/2/94
PRESIDENTS GOODWILL MESSAGE THRILLS JESSICA. By Breda Joy. THE KERRYMAN 7/12/94
BACK FROM THE BRINK. By Alexis Brown. WOMANS WORLD MAGAZINE (SUNDAY WORLD) 6/2/94
LONG JOURNEY OUT OF DARKNESS. By Terry McGeehan. 27/10.92
DUCHESS OF YORK PRAISES JESSICA TAYLOR'S BRAVERY. THE KERRYMAN. 1/10/93
THE JOURNEY BACK AFTER SERIOUS BRAIN INJURY. By Colette Sheridan.
CORK EXAMINER. Oct'93
BUCKINGHAM PALACE PRAISE FOR KILLORGLIN AUTHOR. THE KINGDOM. Oct'93
JESSICA'S JOURNEY BACK. By Cleo Murphy. THE KINGDOM. 21/8/93
PLACE THE FACE. THE KINGDOM. 23/2/98
IRISH PUBLICATIONS. THE WESTMEATH EXAMINER. 21/8/93
FUNDRAISING WITH FERGIE. By Marie Carmody. THE LIMERICK LEADER.Oct'93.
AT 45, BRENDAN LEARNS TO LIVE AGAIN. By Daniele Dreyer. THE KINGDOM. 13/12/94
RAY OF HOPE FOR THE AFFLICTED. By Marie Carmody. LIMERICK LEADER. 26/6 93.
LIFE ALL OVER AGAIN. By Kate Shannahan. IRISH PRESS. 17/12/92
JESSICA CAMPAIGNS FOR BRAIN INJURED VICTIMS. By Daniel Dryer. THE KINGDOM.
March. 1993.
THE JOURNEY BACK. THE KERRY PEOPLE. 10/3/93
KERRY AUTHOR TO MEET FERGIE IN APRIL. THE KERRYMAN. 12/3/93
THE JOURNEY BACK. By Ann Gitte. THE TELLING VOICE. 12/4/95
I COULD'NT EVEN REMEMBER MY OWN NAME. By Anne Dempsey. U MAGAZINE
15/1/92
TRIUMPH OVER A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY. By Rory Hafford. THE STAR. 7/7/93
JESSICA: FILM LIKELY. THE KINGDOM. 20/4/93
BRAIN INJURED NOT BEYOND RECOVERY. By Clodagh Finn. CORK EXAMINER.
Newspaper articles on Jessica's campaign in Canada:
Global Picnic for Brain Injury - with music! - Parksville, Qualicum ...
www.visitparksvillequalicumbeach.com/cms.asp?...2012...30...
COME TO A GLOBAL PICNIC FOR BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS AT THE PICNIC SHELTER, PARKSVILLE COMMUNITY PARK: JUNE 30, 2012. 4PM TO 7PM.
BRAIN-INJURED NOT GETTING HELP, ADVOCATE SAYS.
By Brad Bird. OCEANSIDE STAR 30/10/2008
TRIBUTE FOR BRAIN INJURY SURVIVORS.
By Fred Davies. THE NEWS. 26/10/2008
BRAIN INJURY DOES NOT STOP HER FROM HELPING OTHERS.
By Bill Robinson......... HARBOUR CITY STAR. / 6/7/2009.
JESSICA, THE HIDDEN HERO
'As a young boy, they called him ‘retarded’. They kicked him, threw him into ditches, shoved wasps down his back and sexually abused him. Diagnosed an ‘idiot-savant’, he was born with a pure singing voice, but sang in pubs for a pittance. The house that Brendan Moriarty lived in by himself had no plumbing or heating whatsoever. He was forced to use the back field as a privy. When Canadian immigrant Jessica Taylor found him, his hair was long and tangled, his clothing mismatched and smelly and his manners coarse. She stepped in when there was a family dispute about his house, contacted lawyers on his behalf and kept him company in court. She sat by his side when a team of psychiatrists assessed him over and over again to determine if he was competent to tend to his own needs.
Jessica’s empathy arose from her own horrific ordeal. Though she had never known the cruelty Brendan endured, she still identified with his painful plight. Taking on the role of a mother, she taught him to eat and dress properly, helped renovate his home, and hired plumbers to install hydro facilities. For seven years she watched over him, loved him and encouraged him to gain confidence in his speech, singing and musical abilities. The first time she saw him, he was sitting in a corner of the pub in bare feet, his head hunched into his body, singing and playing harmonica and accordion to tourists from all over the world. Immediately Jessica assessed his formidable talent and taught him to stand up to the pub owners to demand his rightful payment, encouraging his sense of self-worth. Today this man is dressed in pressed slacks, trendy shirts and his hair cut short as he confidently strides across the stage and between songs, smiles and jokes with his adoring audience.
On Christmas Day, Brendan phoned Jessica from his home in County Kerry to her home on Vancouver Island. His voice lilts with happiness, confidence and love for the woman who drastically changed his life.
But this is not the only person whose life Jessica transformed from dark to light. Two are here on Earth today because this caring woman pulled them back from the brink of taking their own lives. After suffering a severe brain injury, which she recounts in her amazing book, “From Tragedy to Triumph; journey back from the edge”, she almost singlehandedly took on the medical and governmental systems, to drum up support for ‘the forgotten people’. Her heroic deeds have not gone unnoticed. Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York wrote to her, “You are a great example to many for your bravery, determination and dedication.” Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland said, “My appreciation for your marvelous courage and work on behalf of the brain-injured of Ireland.”
Rather than accept the doctor’s words, “I want you to work in a factory and pack boxes for a living,” she totally rebelled and studied in libraries to research theology and its connection with the paranormal. She then discovered she was actually stimulating her dormant neurons to take over the task of the dead cells in her brain. Today she is vociferously promoting a rehabilitation program called, “Reserved Neuron Stimulation Patterning” while trying to bring it to Vancouver Island. She is currently writing a thesis on her research entitled, “Jewels in the Mud” and intends to earn her degree in Theology.
'Nothing stops this tireless woman. Leaving the dark cave of her horrific experience, Jessica Taylor could have gone into the Light and moved on. But she stopped, turned around, saw the suffering of others then ran back into their darkness. She suffuses them with determination and with gentling hands, leads them steadily and surely into the light of a new, healing day.
Never have I seen a more determined, focused individual. She is always constantly aware of the limitations of her brain injury but merely laughs, muddles through and emerges on the other side stronger, happier and with more to share with those she tirelessly aids. She has taught others to never limit yourself and never allow others to limit you. Focus on each new challenge and allow your spirit to clear each hurdle.
By Liz Roy. Editor, Author, Metaphysical Lecturer/
www.lizroy.ca