Martin Naughton

Martin Naughton (; 16 March 1954 – 13 October 2016) was an Irish disability rights activist, born in Spiddal, County Galway, in the Connemara Gaeltacht. Described as a "lifelong campaigner for the rights of the disabled", he was involved in the establishment of the Independent Living Movement in Ireland, a co-founder of the Dublin Center for Independent Living (CIL), and a former president of the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL). Playwright Christian O'Reilly, a friend and former colleague, described him as "the Michael Collins of the disability movement".

Early life Naughton was the son of Peadar Ó Neachtain and Nora Ó Neachtain (née Feeney). His father had a small farm near Spiddal village and worked as a horseman, offering haulage services and taxiing spectators to the Galway Races.

A native Irish speaker, Naughton was raised in an Irish-speaking household and educated at the national school in Spiddal village. a diagnosis later changed to spinal muscular atrophy in adulthood.

Childhood institutionalisation In 1963, on medical advice, Naughton (aged nine) and his sister Barbara (aged seven) were sent from Spiddal to St Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital for Children in Baldoyle, County Dublin, run by the Sisters of Charity. The hospital was widely known as "The Little Willie". Naughton and fellow campaigners pledged to return every two years until independent living was a reality for all disabled people in Europe. One of Naughton's favourite sayings, often used in his dealings with politicians and civil servants, was "if it's not in writing, it never happened". His photographs and a portrait by Mary Duffy are held at the University of Galway.

Naughton's life inspired the 2004 film Inside I'm Dancing, although the project diverged substantially from the story originally pitched by his friend, writer Christian O'Reilly. O'Reilly later returned to Naughton's story with the play No Magic Pill (2022), which deliberately cast only disabled actors and was developed in partnership with Independent Living Movement Ireland, the Irish Wheelchair Association, and the Disability Federation of Ireland.