Offering free, confidential, rapid HIV testing, KnowNow can be accessed in bars, clubs, saunas and community centres across the country. These peer-led, non-clinical sessions deliver results within 60 seconds, thereby eliminating the stress and waiting-times you might find in a doctor’s office. Sarah McKenna Barry sat down with some of the volunteers who make the service possible.

Thomas O’Carroll

THOMAS, ORIGINALLY FROM BALLYBUNION IN KERRY, HAS BEEN LIVING IN THE LIBERTIES FOR NEARLY FIVE YEARS NOW. THOMAS LEFT THE KINGDOM FOR THE “BIG GAY WORLD” WHEN HE WAS 17. HE MOVED TO DUBLIN AFTER STUDYING FINANCE IN CORK. THERE, HE MET ADAM SHANLEY, KNOWNOW’S CO-ORDINATOR.

As soon as he saw on Adam’s Facebook that KnowNow were recruiting volunteers, Thomas knew he had to get involved. Volunteering with the programme proved incredibly enriching from his very first training session: