NCBI News Summer 2015

NCBI N ews
Volume 18 No. 2. Summer, 2015
Incorporating The Blind Citizen (1923)
NCBI Shop Cork cuts the Blue Ribbon!
At the official opening of the Cork NCBI shop on North Main Street, L-R: Deputy Mayor
of Cork, Ken O‘Flynn, Angela Brennan, NCBI Ballincollig, Patricia Kenny, Yvonne Cosgrave,
Mary Ricken, Teresa O’Brien, shop manager and Denis Hurley, Munster rugby player.
In this Issue:
Alison and Lana taking
‘Selfies’ at Camp Abilities!
Living with Sight Loss, John
Shanahan tells his story!
In Time’s Eye, Fundraisers
for the blind — 1914!
Follow us on:
Page 1
Sight Lines
IN THIS ISSUE:
Page 3:
New Kids on the block
An NCBI Retail venture.
Pages 4-5:
News in Brief.
Pages 6-7:
Coping with Sight Loss — John
Shanahan’s story.
Pages 8-9:
NCBI, Camp Abilities and children
with vision impairment.
Pages 12-13:
All the bargains at NCBI North
Main St., Cork.
Pages 14-15:
Braille Chess: Flying the flag for
Ireland at Le Havre!
Pages 16-18:
“In Time’s Eye”— The blind fundraisers of 1914!
Pages 21-24:
NCBI fundraising events.
Publisher: NCBI
NCBI NEWS (Incorporating The Blind
Citizen 1923) is published four times a
year by: NCBI,
Whitworth Road, Drumcondra,
Dublin 9.
Tel: 01 830 7033 Fax: 01 8307 787
email: [email protected]
website: www.ncbi.ie
Editor: Frank Callery,
Mobile: 087 6724097
email: [email protected]
Printed by: PB Print Solutions
Tel: 353 86 2511640.
NCBI is a registered Charity,
registered in Ireland No. 26293
Charity No. CHY 4626
Page 2
SIGHT LINES — Bright Future
We recently shared a video
on our Facebook page of a
young boy called Daniel Daly,
who attends Clogher National
School in Co. Offaly. The
video shows Daniel, who is
vision impaired, using Braille
in his classroom and using
digital Braille via a device
called a Braille Note.
With the support of his
parents, his school and NCBI,
Daniel is combining both the
traditional medium of Braille
with the latest technology
to ensure that he is thriving
at school. As NCBI’s Stuart
Lawler says in the video –
the future for children like
Daniel is very bright. Not only
are they learning from the
technology but they are able
to show us a thing or two!
NCBI has recently been
involved in a couple of events
for students to talk about
the use of technology in the
classroom, including the use
of iPads by students who are
blind or vision impaired. The
outcome of these sessions
has been really positive and
with mainstream technology,
such as iPads, now being
accessible out of the box, the
options are increasing hugely.
Stories like Daniels are an
inspiration for parents who
are newer to sight loss, like
the stories we publish in this
issue from those attending
our Early Learning Centre
in Dublin. For many parents
there is huge uncertainty in
the early days. What is ahead
for my child? What will he/
she be able to achieve? The
unknown is scary and can be
a dark place for families.
NCBI works with children
and their families from birth,
through to pre-school, school
and beyond to help allay
these fears and put the right
supports in place. Some of
the most important work we
do is putting families and
children in touch with each
other so that they can make
connections and learn from
each other. This peer support
is invaluable.
Well done to Daniel and
Clogher National School for
their support. You can view
the video at: https://youtu.
be/2oiFw2ToYPw. n
NCBI Collection Dates
We have significantly increased
the number of collections
taking place around the
country for NCBI. Keep an
eye out for collections taking
place over the coming months
in Dublin, Wicklow, Kildare,
Meath, Mayo, Tipperary, Sligo,
Louth, Cork and Kerry. For a
full list of collection dates and
locations please contact NCBI
Head Office on 01-8307033. n
New Kids on the Block at NCBI Ringsend!
NCBI opened its first
dedicated KIDS charity
shop in Ringsend recently. It
carries a fantastic selection
of quality children’s clothes,
shoes and toys — catering for
tots to teens. And with those
‘hopefully’ brights days of
summer approaching, there
are great bargains to be had
from its attractive racks and
shelves.
Carina Merrigan is the
shop manager and she told
NCBI News “We are getting
customers from a wide
catchment now — as far
away as Sandyford. There
is a vibrant community in
Ringsend and there has been
a large influx in population
over the past number of
years. The shop is doing well
and we are becoming better
known by the day.”
All the Labels!
Callers to the NCBI charity
shop next door are making
good use of the Kids shop
as well and it receives a
lot of donations from its
supporters who are sorting
their donations — with the
kids shop particularly in mind.
The stock is first class with
all the labels from Baby Gap
to NEXT and the toy shelves
are a favourite with children
who call in to survey the wide
range on offer.
Aoife White is torn between a top and a soft toy with the
choice on offer at NCBI ‘Kids’ Ringsend.
The NCBI Kids shop
at Ringsend displays
an attractive window
with a wealth of good
quality children’s
clothes inside. You
can get a top and
bottom for as little as
€5! Now that’s saying
a lot!
NCBI Kids shop
is urgently looking
for volunteers for
Ringsend. If you are
interested please
contact Marjorie
Quarton at Marjorie.
[email protected]. Or
phone Carina on
087 1394348.
Page 3
News in Brief
New NCBI Poster and
Leaflets for Eye Clinic
new leaflet is great for both
individuals with sight loss and
their family members, giving
them a better understanding
of how working with NCBI
may benefit them. n
Eircode is Coming This
Summer
NCBI has developed a new
leaflet and poster for the
waiting rooms of eye clinics
and optometrists around the
country. The leaflet helps to
explain to people who may
be referred to NCBI what
we do and how they might
benefit from our services.
We hope it will ensure that
people who may benefit our
services find out about us as
early as possible. n
New Leaflets On Services
Eircode is the new postcode
system for Ireland being
launched in summer 2015. At
this time each postal address
will receive an Eircode which
will be unique to the address.
Having a unique Eircode for
every address helps to solve
two significant problems
associated with addressing
in Ireland. The first is that
over 35% of the addresses
in Ireland are non-unique
i.e. where a property has
the same address with a
least one other property. The
second is that the address for
any given premises can have
a number of different forms.
An Eircode will be a seven
character alpha-numeric code
made up of two parts. The
first part (a Routing Key)
consists of three characters
and defines a general
geographic location.
We have also created a
new leaflet to outline all of
the services we offer. This
Page 4
The second part (a Unique
Identifier) is unique to an
address and distinguishes
one address from another.
A typical Eircode might read
A65 F4E2.
Key benefits
Eircode will bring many
benefits, it will:
Allow delivery and *
service companies to accurately identify addresses so your deliveries get to the right location.
*
Make it quicker and easier for medical emergency services to locate addresses.
Make it easier to shop *
online.
How to get an Eircode
A letter will be sent to each
residential and business
address, notifying the
occupant of the Eircode for
that address. These letters
will be sent out over a
three-week period. Over time,
the public will see an Eircode
being included on mail and
they may be asked for an
Eircode when arranging
delivery of goods and
services or when shopping
online.
Eircode Finder
From launch, the public
are also able to access an
online tool where they can
either enter an address to
find an Eircode or enter
an Eircode to find the full
address. The Eircode Finder
is available on a computer,
tablet or smartphone.
A national and regional
campaign consisting of TV,
radio, digital and regional
Phil McGauran R.I.P. — The most patient and gentlest of people
The late Phil McGauran, at her retirement, with Des Kenny.
press will launch mid-June.
There is also a community
outreach programme, where
23 outreach champions
have been appointed to help
more vulnerable audiences
understand the benefits
and encourage uptake.
The programme will utilise
local events and use local
community networks to
communicate the messages.
For further information,
please visit website www.
eircode.ie n
Music School Pilot
Project
Peter Gorey and John
Delaney, from the Insight
Counselling Centre at
Fighting Blindness have
recently established a music
school for people who are
blind or vision impaired. The
first course is a 12-week
project involving four students
with vision impairments who
will be given professional
tuition in their chosen
instrument. The students will
pay a nominal fee of €60 for
the 12 weeks.
Peter and John are also
looking at starting a choir
in September, again with
professional tuition and
organisation and a fee of €60
to cover expenses. Peter, who
is himself vision impaired,
plays guitar and clarinet
and has had more time to
dedicate to music since he
retired from his full time job
three years ago.
The lessons will take place
at Fighting Blindness on
Ely Place in Dublin on a
Saturday afternoon. For more
information please contact
Peter Gorey on 086 8150145.
Des Kenny writes of Phil:
When I came to work for NCBI in
November, 1986, Phil McGauran
became my personal assistant,
in our then offices at 10 Lower
Hatch Street, Dublin 2. She
continued in this role long into
our move to Whitworth Road in
Drumcondra. She gave invaluable
access to the bank of institutional
knowledge on the past workings
of the organisation. She could be
said to have come from that old
school in which discretion and
loyalty are at the core of practiced
professionalism.
She moved on to other work,
retaining her commitment to people
through her management of the
Contract Telephony Service which
we instituted to circumvent the
embargo on recruitment to the
public service and, with it, the denial
of access to telephony posts in
government departments for “blind
telephonists”. There was more
welfare work for Phil associated
with this role than we imagined, but
Phil was a compassionate person
who absorbed the chaos in other
people’s lives and distilled it with her
own goodness to bring resolution to
all forms of personal problems.
Phil died age 83 years on
Valentine’s day – a day significant in
love which Phil had for all of us who
were privileged to know her and be
touched by something exceptional in
how one diminutive person could be
so big in her generosity to so many
of us. We are the richer for having
known her. n
Page 5
Facing the Future
“When I felt lost, all I had to do was
John Shanahan suffered sudden total sight loss in
2006 and when he had to turn to NCBI it dawned
on him that his life was irrevocably changed.
Fionnuala Murphy spoke with John recently and
this is his story.
I’m talking to John Shanahan on the phone for
so long that my ear starts to get hot. But what
self-respecting Cork man can’t talk for Ireland?
And John has a lot to tell. He’s been on a scary
but enlightening journey over the last seven years,
since he suddenly lost his sight in 2006.
“I can see light in both eyes. I realised in 2006 that
I couldn’t see that well so I eventually went to the
GP, who sent me to the hospital. It all happened
very suddenly and before long I was almost totally
blind. I have optic atrophy along with a genetic
condition called Lebers. My neurologist said he’s
never seen it in his working life,” explained John.
A lot of practical and emotional
changes
As a father of six from Midleton, suddenly forced
to put his career as a painter and decorator behind
him, John had a lot of practical and emotional
changes to get used to. Adjusting to sight loss is
a huge emotional journey for people, who may go
from being independent, employed and active, to
suddenly being dependent on others for even basic
needs.
NCBI is a not-for-profit organisation which provides
information, advice, support, rehabilitation services
and other training designed to assist people who
are living with sight loss to do so independently.
Services offered by NCBI include rehabilitation
training, independent living skills, mobility
training, low vision solutions, IT training, guidance
in choosing a range of assistive technology,
employment advice and counselling. The majority
of people using NCBI’s services have some level of
vision and most acquire sight loss during their adult
lives.
Page 6
“It was very difficult to accept.”
“When the eye doctor told me about NCBI in
Ballincollig it felt like a final nail in the coffin. I felt
as if that was it – I was no longer capable of doing
anything on my own. It was very difficult to accept.
But between NCBI and Irish Guide Dogs I have
completely turned my life around. There were times
when I was lost and all I had to do was pick up the
phone to anyone in NCBI,” stated John.
With NCBI’s help John learned to use a long cane
to get around independently. He also took part in
IT training and is using a computer with the help
of screen reading software, which reads aloud
everything that is on the screen. With the help of
scanners he can read his post. John’s guide dog
Vasco is now his constant companion
Always a keen cyclist, John decided to explore
tandem cycling when he lost his sight. And not one
to do things by halves, he began training for the
Wicklow 200.
“I cycled a lot when I was younger and I decided to
give the tandem a go. It’s scary at times, especially
on a descent hitting 50-60kph! But, as I joke with
my pilot, at least I have a good airbag!”
John is a member of Midleton Cycling and Triathlon
Club and, with his pilot Gary Neff, trains weekly.
They have cycled distances of 150k on the road,
with John managing 180K on the stationery bike.
East Cork Triangle Cycle
Having benefited from the services of both NCBI
and Irish Guide Dogs, John has been a loyal
supporter of both charities over the years. On April
11th, he organised the first East Cork Triangle
Cycle, with options ranging from 10-135k to suit
adults, under 16s and families. NCBI is really
pick up the phone to NCBI!”
John Shanahan, left, with pilot Gary Neff taking a break from the cycle.
Some of the
cyclists headed
by John and
Gary, who took
part in the
first ‘East Cork
Triangle Cycle’,
preparing for the
off at Garvey’s
Supervalu, Cobh.
grateful to everyone who supported the East Cork
Triangle, including John, his family, all the cycle
participants, and John Kiely in Garvey’s SuperValu
in Cobh who very kindly sponsored the event.
We’re already looking forward to next year’s East
Cork cycle.
“People often take for granted that someone else
will raise funds. I want to make sure that someone
else in my situation has access to the services they
need. Without NCBI a lot of people would be facing
a blank page. The biggest thing NCBI has given me
is confidence to get back into life,” said John.
For more information on NCBI visit www.ncbi.ie
or phone NCBI Cork on 021 4214962. n
Page 7
NCBI Support
NCBI and Camp Abilities bring joy and
Caroline Lane, NCBI community resource
worker, Mid West, gives us the story of
Camp Abilities 2015.
Camp Abilities had a new venue for 2015,
all the fun and excitement was held at
Cappanalea Outdoor Adventure Centre,
Killorglin in Co. Kerry. Thirty campers
aged between 10 and 14 years from 14
different counties attended the five-day
residential camp which aims to introduce
children with sight loss to new sports/
physical activities and increase their
independence.
During the first two days children had the
opportunity to take part in rock climbing,
abseiling, raft building, canoeing and
orienteering at Cappanalea. On day three,
campers travelled to Castleisland for an
athletics tournament and finally to Killarney
for horse riding, swimming, archery,
soccer, crazy golf and Judo on day four.
The closing ceremony gave the campers
the opportunity to entertain their parents
with their singing and dancing skills! Old
friends were reunited and new friendships
formed at camp, for many children it
provides the only opportunity to meet with
another child with sight loss.
2015 saw the 10th anniversary of Camp
Abilities in Ireland, a phenomenon
developed by Lauren Lieberman in
Brockport, New York 20 years ago this
year! Her mission is to empower children
and teens with visual impairments to
be physically active and productive
members of their schools, towns, cities,
Page 8
and communities, as well as to improve
the health and well-being of people
with sensory impairments. Many of the
specialists at Camp Abilities have sight
loss themselves, which greatly improves
the experiences of the campers.
The Leaders in Training (LIT) programme
has been developing well at camp, with
six young students taking part this year.
This is facilitated and organised by
Paralympian athlete Nadine Lattimer who
represented Ireland in the shot putt event
in London 2012. The LIT students all of
whom are past campers are encouraged
and supported to develop their personal
effectiveness and independence skills
while learning how to adapt and support a
child to take part in physical activities.
The CARA adaptive physical activity
centre, together with the Institute of
technology Tralee and The National
Learning Network are the main organisers
of Camp Abilities in Ireland with support
and sponsorship from NCBI and Vision
Sports. More than 50 people, including 40
volunteers provide the hard work, energy
and enthusiasm to make the camp a
positive and active experience for all the
campers.
On the final day, parents had the
opportunity to speak about the importance
of the camp with many reporting the
experience as the only time their child gets
to take part in activities on an equal level.
Claire Hennessy, mum to Patrick said
“It’s not that Patrick wants to go to Camp
learning to Children with Vision Impairment
Taking selfies! Alison Roode and Lana McKeon.
Dineka Mason from Limerick with Volunteer Peter.
Abilities, it’s that he needs to!” Campers
are challenged while at camp to be more
independent, caring for and storing their
belongings, enhance their orientation,
mobility and social skills.
NCBI provided support to Camp Abilities,
which included attendance at the
organising committee meetings, providing
awareness training and an environmental
accessibility audit, sponsorship funding
and support for volunteers, staff and
campers for the duration of the camp. We
also facilitated an introductory session
for 13 campers on using the iPad as a
learning media solution.
We extracted the expert assistance of
campers Alan Rynne, Cian O’Riordan and
David Redmond to assist in providing a
demonstration to campers who were new
to the iPad. Many thanks to Lisa Brown,
James Honour and Colette Quinlivan from
NCBI. For more information go to: http://www.
caraapacentre.ie/camp-abilities n
Fun at Sea.
Rock climbing adventures.
Page 9
NCBI Volunteers
NCBI Volunteer Giving to Community
Long-time volunteer Pat Conroy
tells of her enjoyment in being
involved in the NCBI community.
I got involved with the NCBI charity shops
in the early 90s, when they were just
beginning. But I had been volunteering
with the organisation in Kildare for a long
time before that, it’s probably longer than
30 years ago now.
When I first joined the committee the
organisation was much smaller. So we
used to organise a lot of social events
for people with vision impairments in the
area. There wasn’t much public transport
so we’d drive around and collect people
for the different events. We really got to
know people personally.
A strong volunteer network.
When the charity shops started up I
really didn’t know much about it but I got
involved in Newbridge, which was the
second shop to open in the early 90s. It
was trial and error and we learned the
hard way. I’m glad to say that the shop is
thriving and we have a strong volunteer
network.
I notice that customers spend money very
carefully these days and will consider
every item. And because there are more
charity shops around now, customers are
also able to compare one to the other and
they will shop around.
People volunteer for different reasons –
it’s a great way to have a chat and meet
people and it can be a lifesaver if people
are feeling lonely. The camaraderie that
Page 10
Long-time NCBI Volunteer, Pat Conroy.
we volunteers have benefits the shops
too as it creates a nice atmosphere for
customers. The shop is bright and cheerful
and it’s inviting. For the volunteers it works
both ways, we are donating our time but we
also get something back in the friendships
we make. I enjoy talking to customers and
I get to keep my independence by keeping
busy. I’m also conscious of those who use
NCBI’s services and the role the shops play
in that. I like to help people when they’re
shopping and if they’re looking for an outfit
for a particular occasion we can advise on
what might go nicely together.
We are very respectful of the donations we
receive. People have made a decision to
donate to NCBI and we are very conscious
of thanking customers and donors.
— Pat Conroy, Volunteer. n
VSI — 3-Year Sports and Leisure Plan!
It was goals galore as Vision Sports Ireland (VSI)
launched its 3 year sports and leisure plan for blind
and vision impaired people in Ireland. The launch
was held at the Dublin’s Morgan Hotel on May
22nd.
The plan kicks off with the ideal that every single
vision impaired person, no matter what age, level
of sight or fitness, should be able to participate, in
so far as they wish and is possible, in the sports,
leisure and social activities of their choice.
To get the ball rolling a set of 10 goals are set.
VSI hope to appoint a sports development and
liaison officer to get out and about and develop
opportunities throughout the land. Inevitably, there
will be a cost so the plan is to give marketing and
fund-raising a kick start.
New membership categories coupled with greater
awareness should increase VSI membership fourfold. Meanwhile, to help create greater awareness
a whole new PR strategy will be devised to take
account of modern communication methods.
It is widely accepted that sports participation is so
low among vision impaired people compared to
those involved with other disability groupings. We
know ageing is a key factor but VSI believes there
are several other reasons. This Plan set out to
hone in on existing research and, where necessary,
support new research. Of course, the game would
be over before it begun were it not for volunteers.
Training opportunities are being planned as well as
an end of season awards and recognition night.
The competition landscape for those with vision
impairment has changed dramatically over the
last four decades from exclusion to inclusion. VSI
outline how it will support coaches, clubs, schools
and colleges, sports partnerships and national
governing bodies to ensure everyone has a sporting
chance.
Implementation of governance is always a hot topic.
VSI Hall of Fame Award for Frank
Cullinane above, and Jimmy Gallagher
below, presented by VSI Chairman Robert
Dobbyn. (Photos — Karl Leonard.)
VSI are very strong in this area and plan to get even
stronger. It better, because the last goal in this three
year plan is that every single recommendation will
be policed with regular reportage to all members!
Finally, you can’t have goals without a match of
the day. VSI hope to match up with its key partner,
NCBI, to build even closer relations. Indeed, VSI
wish to work very closely with all like-minded
organisations and groupings from within the blind/
vision impairment catchment area and beyond. n
Page 11
NCBI Retail NEWS
All the Bargains at NCBI No
Smiles at the official opening. L-R: Deputy Mayor of Cork, Ken O‘Flynn,
Angela Brennan, NCBI Ballincollig, Patricia Kenny, Yvonne Cosgrave,
Area Manager NCBI Retail, Mary Ricken, Teresa O’Brien, shop manager
and Denis Hurley, Munster rugby player.
It was all hands on deck at the official
opening of the NCBI shop at North
Main Street, Cork when Deputy Mayor
of Cork City, Councillor Ken O’Flynn,
cut the blue ribbon. Councillor O’Flynn
wished the North Main Street well and
urged people to support this great
initiative.
“Charity shops are a very welcome
addition to every shopping street. Very
often they are filling spaces that might
otherwise be left empty. North Main
Street has suffered in the recession, with
the loss of a number of long established
businesses. So we are delighted to
see that charity shops are thriving and
keeping the street alive. As well as a great
place to find bargains for the thrifty among
us, charity shops offer great opportunities
for volunteering and getting involved in
your local community. And in the case, of
this NCBI shop you will be directly helping
people who are blind or vision impaired in
Cork.”
Proceeds from the shop go directly to the
supports and services provided by NCBI
to almost 2,000 people with sight loss
in Cork city and County. As NCBI must
raise €4 out of every €10 it spends on
services, its 72 charity shops around the
country make a vital contribution to its
fundraising efforts.
Page 12
Munster rugby’s Denis Hurley helps out in
the shop with manager Teresa O’Brien.
The Cork North Main Street shop is
managed by Teresa O’Brien, with the
support of a core team of volunteers.
According to Teresa “The work we
do wouldn’t be possible without these
important fundraising efforts. We’ve been
offering services throughout the county
of Cork, from our base in Ballincollig for
many years and it’s great for donors and
customers to know that their donation
or money is going directly into the
local community. The shop offers great
bargains in second hand clothes, books,
bric-a-brac, kids clothes and lots more.”
Sight loss is increasing as our population
ages and demand for NCBI’s services is
on the increase. The new NCBI charity
shop is urgently seeking donations of
your unwanted clothing and other items.
Every bag is worth a great amount to the
organisation. n
orth Main St., Cork
Customer choice at North Main Street, and
plenty to choose from!
Customer Day for
NCBI Nenagh
“Bookends”
NCBI’s only bookshop, ‘Bookends’ in
Abbey Lane Nenagh, manages very
nicely. It has been open since 2002 and
was a success from the start. Of course
book prices have gone down, but plenty
of choice and good presentation work
wonders.
The shop has had just two managers,
Mary O’Sullivan for ten years and Lorraine
Weldon for almost four. On Thursday May
14th, Lorraine held a ‘Customer Day,’ with
a one day sale, tea, coffee and buns.
The shop took €225 over the day. This
was a great effort costing only petty cash
and, of course, setting up, which Lorraine
took care of most successfully. Everybody
went away happy and the feedback has
been excellent. Caroline Fitzgerald from
L-R: NCBI volunteer Rachel Hall with
“Bookends” manager Lorraine Weldon.
the NCBI Offices in Nenagh was there and
was much impressed.
Only a few of the NCBI shops feature
books and they sell in some places better
than others. I think much of the Nenagh
success is the display of interesting books,
not readily available. There are a great
many customers who ask for a particular
book and if we haven’t got it, we look
out for it and sometimes order books for
people who aren’t familiar with shopping
on-line.
The ‘customer day’ was a good example
of a small scale fundraiser, costing little
except, of course, work. It was well
thought out and well worthwhile.
— Marjorie Quarton. n
Page 13
Six Nations Braille Chess
Philip Doyle reports on the recent Six
Nations Braille Chess Tournament at
Complexe DOJO/Echecs in Gonfreville
l’Orcher, near Le Havre, France .
The Six Nations Braille Chess Tournament took
place over the Easter weekend of 3 - 7 April at the
Complexe DOJO/Echecs in Gonfreville l’Orcher,
near Le Havre. This is a biennial friendship event
hosted in turn by the participating countries:
Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands,
Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Due to
Switzerland’s withdrawal, Ireland was asked
to provide a team. Ireland had participated on
three previous occasions and this year’s team, in
Board Order, were: Philip Doyle, Michael Delaney,
Ernie McElroy and Eamonn Casey— with guides
Margaret O’Shea, Noreen Cleary and Fionnuala Ní
Bhrádaigh. Fionnuala and Michael’s almost 2-year
old daughter Laoise completed the party.
On reaching our destination we were met by the
Organiser Cyrille Vaugeois and a colleague who
drove us to the Hotel Campanile. On the evening
of Friday 3rd, there was a reception in the sports
complex hosted by the Mayor of Gonfreville who
welcomed the teams and presented each player
with a gift of some local specialities. The team
captains met to discuss the scoring system which
would be match points rather than board points.
The arbiter was International arbiter Benjamin
Marret, dubbed “The Sheriff” on account of his
badge.
In the first of two matches on Saturday, we played
France, the defending Champions, and lost heavily.
I was outplayed by Adrien Hervais. Michael got
into time trouble and lost to Olivier Deville. Ernie
lost to Bertrand Catherine, but Eamonn spared our
blushes with a draw on Board 4 against Bernard
Sojka. This result placed us in joint last with
Belgium, behind the Netherlands.
Round 1 results: Ireland-France, 0.5-3.5;
Netherlands-United Kingdom, 1.5-2.5;
Page 14
Flying the Flag for Ireland at
Belgium-Germany, 0.5-3.5.
In the afternoon we came up against the
Netherlands. After my opponent, Sergio
Harnandan, gifted me a Pawn in the opening, I
greedily grabbed another which got me into all
sorts of trouble and in no time I was lost. Michael
and Ernie steadied the ship with creditable draws
while Eamonn went down to Jan Boer.
Round 2 results: France-Germany, 2-2; IrelandNetherlands, 1-3; United Kingdom-Belgium, 1-3.
We played one round on Sunday against Belgium.
I had another bad start, this time against Didier
Dalschaert but soon gained the upper hand and
when I doubled my Rooks on the seventh rank,
it was inevitable that something would give and
soon after I won a Pawn and eventually the game.
Michael and Ernie had draws against Herman
Yennen and Ava Vandekerchove — the only
woman in the Tournament. Eamonn lost, but overall
the result was a good one, earning us our first
match point. At this stage France and Germany
were neck-and-neck ahead on five match points.
Round 3 results: Netherlands-France, 1-3;
Ireland-Belgium, 2-2; Germany-United Kingdom,
2.5-1.5.
On the Sunday afternoon, we paid a visit to a
Norman distillery where we learned the secrets
of distilling cider and the famous Calvados apple
brandy. We also sampled drinks including one
flavoured with whiskey.
On Monday we played the last two rounds. First
against the powerful Germans and suffered a
disastrous 4-0 whitewash. By contrast, France
could only draw with the UK, thus slipping a match
point behind Germany.
Round 4 results: France-United Kingdom, 2-2;
Ireland-Germany, 0-4; Netherlands-Belgium, 3-1.
Le Havre
In the final round Ireland played the UK. Eamonn
got us off to a great start with a win against Phil
Gordon. Then Ernie lost to Mark Kirkham who was
having a great Tournament. Steve Hilton had me all
bottled up but after he exchanged his Bishop for my
Knight the game opened up and soon after I won a
Pawn and the endgame. Michael’s opponent, Les
Whittle, blundered a Knight and went on to lose
giving us a satisfying victory. We were elated with
our win over the UK.
Meanwhile, France dropped another match point
to Belgium, while the Germans were forging ahead
with another whitewash over the Netherlands.
Congratulations to Germany on their impressive
win.
Round 5 results: Belgium-France, 2-2; GermanyNetherlands, 4-0; Ireland-United Kingdom, 3-1.
Final scores:
Germany 9 match points.
France 7.
Netherlands 4.
Belgium 4.
United Kingdom 3.
Ireland 3.
ABOVE: at the presentation to the Irish team,
pictured centre, L-R: in yellow top, Philip Doyle,
in green top, holding child, Michael Delaney, front
holding trophy, Eamonn Casey and in blue top,
Ernie McElroy.
Pictured during the tournament, L-R: Marc Van
Gysel, Belgium and Eamonn Casey, Ireland. Marc
won this match.
We would like to thank the tournament organisers,
the teams, and the staff at the complex who
provided great food; and particularly Bernard Sojka,
one of the French team, who guided us from Saint
Lazare train station to our rail connection to the
Airport. n
Page 15
In Time’s Eye
Fundraiser, Trailblazer — Sir Arthur Pe
In the annals of blind welfare and
advancement few names are held in
honour more than that of Sir Arthur
Pearson. Frank Callery looks back on
the achievements of this blind man, one
hundred years ago.
On March 20th 1914, the founder of
NCBI, Alice Stanley Armitage and her
niece Doris Mary Rose were stood in
the vestibule of the new offices of the
Royal National Institute for the Blind, at
206 Great Portland Street W. London,
awaiting the arrival of King George V.
and Queen Mary. Standing beside them
was Arthur Pearson. The King and Alice Stanley
Queen
were there to officially open the
Armitage.
new offices and printing works and the
first person presented to their Majesties was Alice
Stanley Armitage. Doris Mary Rose Armitage (who
would succeed her as President of NCBI in 1950)
who was then 13 years of age, presented the
Queen with a bouquet on behalf of the NIB.
On the previous day, the British
and Foreign Blind Association
(BFBA — known affectionately to the
Armitage family as the ‘Ass’) which
had been founded by Alice’s father,
Thomas Rhodes Armitage, M.D., in
1868, had finally ceased to exist and
metamorphosed into the National Institute
Doris Rose
for the Blind which would in time become
Armitage.
the RNIB. As early as 1870, the Council
of the BFBA had sanctioned the renting of office
accommodation at ‘not more than £15 a year’. This
never occurred and the Armitage home, 33 (and
later 34) Cambridge Square, remained the offices
of the BFBA until after its incorporation in 1902
when it made application to the Board of Trade to
be registered with limited liability. The Association
subsequently moved to new premises at 206 Great
Portland Street W. London. By 1907 this address
was well and truly established as the focus of
Page 16
administration for blind matters in the UK.
From Great Portland Street the BFBA continued
to issue its voluminous Braille productions from
a press which was claimed ‘to be by far the most
important of its kind in the Empire’. However, this
premises proved to be inadequate for its purposes
and the Executive Council acquired ‘a more
commodious site only a few doors away in the
same street”.
Dramatic increase
Arthur Pearson lost his sight to glaucoma in 1913.
In October of that year he joined the Council of
the National Institute for the Blind. In January 1914
he was appointed treasurer. That was a propitious
day for the NIB. His contribution is shown in the
fact that the Institute’s gross income for the year
ending December 31st., 1913, was £8,010, while its
income for the year ending March 31st., 1921, was
£358,174. This dramatic increase was in large part
due to Pearson’s boundless enthusiasm and his
organisational and fundraising abilities.
Early in 1914 Arthur Pearson had set himself the
task of raising the £30,000 necessary to equip
the National Institute’s building in Great Portland
Street, and to form an endowment fund for the
production and reducing the cost of production
of embossed books. He convinced the then Lord
Mayor of London, Sir Vansittart Bowater, to open a
special Mansion House Fund for this aim. Among
the first donations to be acknowledged were £1,000
from Lord Northcliffe, £1,000 from Arthur Pearson
himself, and £1,000 from Lord Rothermere.
The earliest use of radio for a fund
raising appeal
Pearson had seized his chance immediately after
King George opened the Institute’s buildings. He
arranged a broadcast of the King’s speech through
the medium of radio, with the help of the Marconi
Company. The King’s 1914 ‘Message to the
ships of the world’ appeal was the earliest use
of radio for a fund raising appeal. It was sent out
arson and the World of Blindness 1914
by wireless from Poldhu (Marconi’s radio station
on the Lizard, Cornwall) and Cape Cod to every
vessel on the oceans of the world equipped with a
Marconi installation. It was forwarded from London
by Pearson, to the high-powered station at Poldhu
and thence to the ships which had a receiving
range of 1,500 miles from Poldhu (the message
was republished by the ships in their Ocean
Newspaper). It asked the captains of all ships to
make a collection on board and to re-transmit the
message to other ships, thus involving all ships on
the oceans of the world in the appeal — Messrs.
Rothchild gave £300 to the fund on this occasion.
Novelty and dramatic originality
In addition to the direct result of this appeal, its
novelty and dramatic originality gained columns of
newspaper publicity. Filson Young wrote: “Wireless
telegraphy is the most modern of man’s powers;
charity, I suppose, the most ancient of his virtues.
Mr. Arthur Pearson who thought of this dramatic
way of helping his fund for providing books for the
blind; was called “the hustler” in the days before he,
too, entered the dark kingdom. It is his old touch,
the grand manner asserting itself once again.”
By the time war had broken out in August, 1914,
Arthur Pearson had succeeded in raising nearly
£60,000. He also persuaded the Carnegie Trust
to make large grants to the book funds, and the
number of publications in Braille increased each
year despite all the difficulties of war time. Under
his stewardship, the NIB opened (1916) a home for
blind babies at Chorley Wood — “Sunshine House,”
in which both Queen Mary and Queen Alexandra
took an active personal interest in its welfare. In
1921 the Institute opened a college for blind girls,
and vastly improved the buildings of the school for
blind boys at Worcester. At this time the Institute
had 7,000 blind men on its registers.
Over one million pounds
At the outbreak of war, at the request of the Prince
of Wales, Arthur Pearson transferred his activity
and his enthusiasm for collecting money ‘for a good
cause’ to the Prince
of Wales’s Fund. He
was given offices in
St. James’s Palace
and could call on
the resources of
the State. Tens
of thousands of
postcards and
thousands of
telegrams were
dispatched from
his office. In six
months Arthur
Pearson succeeded
in collecting over
one million pounds
(nearly £30 million in
today’s value).
Sir Arthur Pearson.
Beginning of the great work
Very shortly Arthur Pearson found himself working
again solely for blind people. At the very end of
1914 Pearson opened a hostel for blinded soldiers
on the Bayswater Road, London. With the increase
in blinded soldiers returning from the war, he
devised a plan to give these men a new start in life.
The hostel in the Bayswater Road which housed
four blinded soldiers was the beginning of the
great work of ‘teaching ex-soldiers how to be blind
and at the same time how to be independent and
useful’. From 1915 to the end of his life, this was his
absorbing preoccupation.
On March 26th., 1915, the hostel was moved from
the Bayswater Road to St. Dunstan’s in Regent’s
Park. The house belonged to Mr. Otto Kahn, the
New York banker, and it was placed at Arthur
Pearson’s disposal, absolutely free of charge. St.
Dunstan’s had all the advantages of a large country
house with a wonderful garden, though it was within
a couple of miles of Piccadilly Circus. When the
move was made, Arthur Pearson had sixteen men
to care for. Before the end of the war, there were
seventeen hundred names on his books.
Continued on page 18
Page 17
In Time’s Eye
Continued from page 17
In Time’s Eye — 1914
St. Dunstan’s was to become the engine for
blindness rehabilitation and training across
the world. Eight trades and occupations were
taught at St. Dunstan’s: massage, shorthand
writing, telephone operating, poultry farming,
carpentry, mat-making, boot-repairing and
basket-making. Netting in many forms was
also taught, but Pearson never regarded this
as more than a paying hobby. Every man was
taught to read Braille. At St. Dunstan’s, blind
men learned in six-to-nine months what it
took four to five years to teach them in other
institutions.
But all this had to be paid for and Arthur
Pearson, through his fundraising appeals, did
just that. His appeals for the National Institute
and particularly for St. Dunstan’s were made
systematically and with ingenuity, throughout
the country. Local blind institutions found
that Arthur Pearson, with his more dramatic
methods, was collecting money that might
have gone to them. They considered this unfair
and undesirable, and so he devised a plan
by which, in many instances, the collection
of funds was left to the local Institutions, and
allocations were made to them, sufficient for
them to carry on their work satisfactorily. In
most cases they benefited financially from this
new arrangement. The NIB now has fifteen
branches, covering the whole of England
and Wales, and one in Dublin run by William
Rochfort-Wade, whose family were to be long
and centrally associated with NCBI.
Progressive rehabilitation
In recognition of his work at St. Dunstan’s,
Arthur Pearson was created a baronet in
1916, and he received the G.B.E. in 1917.
But tragedy waited. Early on the morning of
December 9th., 1921, while bathing in his
enamelled bath, he must have slipped forward,
striking his head on the tap. The blow stunned
him. He fell face forward into the water and
died from asphyxia. n
Page 18
Three days before the
King’s Speech at NIB, Mr.
Wardle, M.P. raised “the
condition of the blind”
in a House of Commons
debate. Arising from this,
On May 17th. 1914 the
Government appointed
the “Departmental
Committee on the Welfare
of the Blind”, under the
Chairmanship of W.
Hayes Fisher, M.P.
Three days later Arthur
William Rochfort-Wade.
Pearson, together with Ben
Purse, the leader of the National League of the Blind, were
added to the committee. Because of the war, the committee
did not report until 20th July 1917. Arthur Pearson of course
gave evidence to the Committee on St. Dunstan’s, and his
man in Dublin, William Rochfort-Wade, a blind solicitor,
gave evidence on “the condition of the blind in Ireland”.
Through Pearson’s evidence and canvassing, the final
report recommended that blinded soldiers receive
pensions via Royal Warrant. Blinded Officers: £175 a year
upwards, according to rank, with the possibility of an
additional £78 per year, where the constant care of another
is necessary. Blinded N.C.O.s and men: 1. Total loss of
sight (a) 27s. 6d. to 42s. 6d. (b) loss of vision of one eye:
13s. 9d. to 21s. 3d.
Rochfort-Wade’s evidence clashed with that of Sir Thomas
Stafford, the Irish representative, who held the official line.
Rochfort-Wade had undertaken a study of blindness in
Ireland and produced his précis of statistics in evidence.
He became an influential advocate for blind people in
Ireland, being Secretary to the Hibernian Blind Society
(66 Lr. Gardiner St., Dublin) and the NIB representative in
Ireland, with offices at 10 Westmoreland Street, Dublin.
He was a main fundraiser for the Pearson scheme of
Fundraising for the NIB and St. Dunstan’s, and through
this, aided smaller societies and institutions. He died at his
home, Belcamp-Hutchinson, Raheny, Dublin, on August
8th., 1920 and is buried in Raheny C.O.I. Cemetery. There is
a plaque in the adjoining church erected by “The Blind of
Ireland to whose interests he unselfishly devoted himself”.
The NCBI Rochfort-Wade Hostel for Blind Women was
named in his honour. His daughter, Molly, was a founding
member of NCBI and later one of its Vice-Presidents. n
NCBI’s Early Learning Centre — The Parents’ View
Parents of some of the children
who attend NCBI’s Early Learning
Centre give us some insight
into their children and their
involvement at the centre.
“When he was 8 months we heard it in black and
white from the ophthalmologist and it really hit us
then. We were immediately put in touch with the
relevant services and I can’t say anything positive
enough about NCBI and the Early Learning Centre.
They don’t look at Robert any differently. The staff
are always there if we have any worries and then it
doesn’t seem like such a worry anymore.
“Since he started with NCBI Robert is fixing and
following a lot more and he has more interest in life
and what’s going on around him. He’s trying to feed
himself – grabbing at the spoon and trying to find
his mouth and his head control has improved a lot.
My advice to other parents is not to take it all on
your own shoulders. I thought I could handle it all
myself. But it wasn’t about me, it is about Robert
and what we can do to give him the best start. I
would also say to be open and to pick services
and supports that suit you as a family. NCBI is an
invaluable support”. n
Robert Montgomery.
Denise Montgomery, Robert’s Mum
“Robert is now four and a half. When he was
7-days-old he contracted bacterial meningitis.
There was always a question over his sight and
unfortunately we were only home from hospital a
few days when he had a brain haemorrhage. After
that the neuro- surgeon told us he had a significant
brain injury and because he was fighting for his life
we parked the question over his vision for a while.
We just wanted him to survive.
Laura Ratcliffe, Tadhg’s Mum
“Tadhg has albinism. It wasn’t spotted at birth so he
was about five months old when he was diagnosed.
I brought my older son Ben to Vision Express for
a routine eye exam and they recommended that
I take Tadhg to the public health nurse as they
thought he had nystagmus. We were then referred
to the paediatrician and ophthalmologist.
“Although albinism runs in both sides of our
families, I didn’t know anyone with it because it was
going years back. So it came as a major shock. We
were devastated and we didn’t know where to go.
We were worried about him – would he ride a bike
or play with his friends? But we’re not worried about
any of that anymore.
“We were referred to NCBI and Tadhg started in the
Early Learning Centre when he was one.
Continued on page 20
Page 19
NCBI Early Learning Centre
Continued from page 19
“The first time I went to see the Early Learning
Centre I was terrified. But Anna just gave him a big
cuddle and went to play with him so that I could talk
to Margaret and have a look around. It was a light
in the dark for us. They have built his confidence
tremendously and gave us the tools to help Tadhg
at home. So now we keep all his cars in the green
box, for example, so he knows where to find them.
“Tadhg also goes to a mainstream pre-school and
the Early Learning Centre staff went to the preschool to help transition him in there and to meet
the teachers. My worries for Tadhg have eased.
He’s now ready for school, which is a big step for
any child. I’m worried about how he’ll fit in and what
other kids will ask him. But I’m not worried about
Tadhg succeeding in life, I know he can do whatever
he wants”. n
Aishling Long and
Baby Georgia with
Elaine Howley, CEO
NCBI Services, and
JP Corcoran, NCBI
Fundraising Team.
“It came as a huge shock. We just couldn’t believe it
and we were very upset. She needed an operation
a week after she was born and we had regular
follow up appointments. We are still unsure of what
sight she has at this stage, although we know that
there is no vision at all in the left eye.
“When Georgia was diagnosed we felt lost and
alone. We didn’t know where to go. I actually ran
the Women’s Mini Marathon for NCBI a few years
ago and again in 2014 when I was pregnant with
Georgia. I pass it on my way to work every day and
thought it would be nice to support one of the less
well known charities.
Tadhg Ratcliffe with ELC manager Margaret
Bousquet.
Aisling Long, Georgia’s Mum
“My daughter Georgia is now 6-months-old and
has just started attending NCBI’s Early Learning
Centre in Clondalkin. Georgia was diagnosed with
microphthalmia, more commonly known as ‘small
eye syndrome’ and coloboma when she was a
week old. It’s a genetic condition, which means that
the back of her eyes never developed in the womb.
Page 20
“So when Georgia was 6-weeks-old we rang NCBI.
We didn’t know if they could do anything for such
a small baby but when our local support worker
called to the house she gave us such hope. NCBI
have been caring and understanding and we felt
like we weren’t alone. We have used the counselling
service to help us come to terms with this road we
never thought we’d have to go down and meeting
other parents and children at the Early Learning
Centre has been fantastic. They hold coffee
mornings so we all have a chance to meet and chat
and that support is invaluable.
“I decided to do the ‘RunaMuck’ challenge to raise
funds for NCBI and my whole family got involved. It
was a great success”. n
NCBI Fundraising — Events Around the Country
‘RunaMuck’ Challenge and Cake Sale
in aid of Early Learning Centre
Thanks so much to Aisling Long and Michael Byrne
who recently completed the ‘RunaMuck’ Challenge
in Kildare to raise funds for NCBI’s Early Learning
Centre. Aisling and Michael, whose daughter
Georgia is now attending the NCBI Early Learning
Centre in Clondalkin, were joined by 30 of their
family and friends to run through a very cold, wet
and mucky course and face obstacles such as
bale jumps, net scrambles, Tarzan swings, bridges,
ditches, streams, tractor tyres & tunnels. Phew!
To add to the wonderful amount raised, Donna
Meredith, who is Aisling’s close friend and work
colleague, organised a wonderfully successful cake
sale in her work place.
Altogether a fantastic €5,288 was raised for the
Early Learning Centre in Clondalkin which provides
vital support and services to children with sight loss
up to the age of 6. Well done to you all and thanks
for your support. n
Above: Aisling and Michael on their way to
“Runamuck” with family and friends.
Above: Aisling and Michael present a
cheque to Elaine Howley, CEO of NCBI
Services. Left to Right: Joanna Siadul,
Margaret Bousquet, Michael Byrne, Elaine
Howley, Georgia Long, JP Corcoran, Aisling
Long, Jake Long and David Long.
NCBI’s range of Scented Candles
NCBI has a fabulous selection of scented candles
for sale with
profits going
to develop
our services
for people
with sight loss
around the
country. The
candles are for
sale in head
office, on our
website and
through our network of 73 NCBI Retail Charity
Shops.
The price is €2 each or four for €7.50 with four
different scents to choose from – Festive Nights,
Relaxing Nights, Tropical Nights and Forest Nights.
You will find a full list of our shop locations at
www.ncbi.ie/ncbiretail. n
Page 21
NCBI Fundraising
Upcoming Fundraising Events
Pancake Fundraiser Classic &
Vintage Vehicle Show
28th June
The 18th Annual Classic & Vintage Vehicle Show in aid
of NCBI will be taking place in St. Columba’s College
on 28th June. A super day was had at the Show in 2014
which featured vehicles from 1920s right up to 1980 and
even early 90s including VW Beetles, V12 E Type coupe,
190 SL, TRs also a very nice MK1 Cortina 1600 E on
the GOIVC stand. Admission is €10 per car and set up
and display will be available from 9.30am. For further
information please call Finbarr Roche on 01 8821917. n
Trip to Tipp Weekend of Cycling —
20th Anniversary
15th and 16th August
Online registration is just about ready for the 20th
annual Trip to Tipp Weekend of Cycling. If you haven’t
heard of it, this long established cycle event, run by
Tipp man Billy Shanahan, has something for all levels of
cyclists. The 70km 3 Counties Tour in memory of John
Murphy will take place on Saturday 15th while rides of
70km, 100km and 140km will be available on Sunday
16th. A hugely popular 20km Family Fun Cycle also
takes place on the Sunday morning. Visit our website for
details on start times, routes, and to book your place. n
Granard Cup Final in Woodbrook
Golf Club
24th August
Established in 1933, The Granard Cup is one of the
oldest running ladies golf competitions in Ireland. In
order to participate, all you need to do is hold a qualifying
competition in your club. The entrance fee to qualify
is only €10 per pair and the proceeds go directly to
NCBI. The winners will then qualify to play in this year’s
All Ireland Granard Cup Final, which will be held in
Woodbrook Golf Club, Wicklow on Monday August 24th.
In 2014, over 100 clubs participated. If you would like
to get involved or receive one of our information packs,
contact Roisin Walsh 01 8821984.
Above: Left to right – Chris White, CEO of NCBI
with Marie Gilbride, Ladies Captain of Elm Park
Golf Club and Noranne Callaghy & Miriam Malone,
Winners from Edenderry Golf Club. n
NCBI Holmpatrick Cup
11th to 13th October
For only €7.50 per person you could compete for a
chance to play in the final of the Holmpatrick Cup at the
home of golf, St. Andrews from 11th to 13th October.
Club qualifiers are currently taking place. Contact
Allison Harvey on 01 8821939 for more details. n
Majorca Cycle Challenge With Sean
Kelly
11th to 18th October
Cycle for NCBI in Majorca this October and help raise
vital funds for people with sight loss. The event will be
a seven day trip with a variety of cycle rides to choose
from to suit all levels. What’s more, everyone will get a
chance to cycle with the legendary Sean Kelly. For more
Page 22
fundraiser in aid of NCBI which raised an amazing
€2,000. Kenneth’s brother Sean is from Tullamore and
avails of the services of NCBI. Many thanks to the all
students and staff who got involved in this tournament
and helped make it the wonderful success that it was.
Above: NCBI HolmPatrick Cup Winners 2014.
Left to right – Ken Hovenden & Victor Smyth
representing Castlecomer Golf Club, Kilkenny.
information, or if you would like to volunteer to pilot a
vision impaired cyclist on a tandem bike.
Please contact JP on 01 8821970. n
Above: Kenneth and Athlone IT students
presenting a cheque for €2000 to Aileen Ahern,
NCBI Community Resource Worker for the
Offaly and Westmeath area. n
Skydive - All
Year!
Airtricity Dublin City Marathon for
NCBI
26th October
Support NCBI by taking part in what will be the 35th
annual Dublin City Marathon. The ultimate endurance
challenge, you will run through the historic Georgian
streets of Ireland’s capital city alongside 14,000 other
participants from Ireland and around the world. As
always, all NCBI runners will receive a fundraising pack
and support. For more information, please call us today
on 01 8307033 or email [email protected]. n
Darts night fundraiser in Athlone IT
NCBI would also like to kindly thank Kenneth Poland,
a 4th year tourism and hospitality management student
at Athlone IT, who recently organised a darts night
Face your fears and do a
10,000 ft. parachute jump
to raise funds for NCBI.
This event takes place all
year round. n
Dublin Bus Ticket Refunds
Travelling on Dublin Bus
today? Please consider
donating your bus refund
ticket and see all donations
go to NCBI – Working
for People with Sight
Loss. Please send your
tickets to us at “Bus
Ticket Appeal, NCBI Head
Office, Whitworth Road,
Drumcondra, Dublin 9.” n
Page 23
NCBI Fundraising
“Dining in the Dark” Fundraiser At Navan NCBI
On Saturday 16th May,
NCBI’s charity shop in Navan
held a Dining in the Dark
fundraiser at the Martry
Restaurant in Navan, Co.
Meath.
The night aimed to raise
awareness of what it means
to live with sight loss, as
well as to raise vital funds
for NCBI’s services. Shop
manager Geraldine Lee was
delighted with the interest in
the event.
“Our premises
in Navan
includes both
the charity
shop and our
services office
so it’s great to
see where the
money raised
through the shop
goes, directly,
and meet people
who use NCBI’s
services. I would like
to thank all those who
contributed in any way,
particularly Luke from
‘Making Your Wine”
in Kells, Helen from
“No Fuss Foto” and
all the volunteers
involved on the
night.”
Above: Blind-folded diners being
led to their tables at the “Dining
in the Dark” experience. Below:
Knights of the Round Table
“Dining in the Dark” .
Left: Geraldine Lee
with the ‘Dining in
the Dark” vintage
ready for guests.
Can You Help Us? Consider Making a Regular
Donation to NCBI!
Did you know that NCBI must
raise €4 out of every €10
we spend on services? By
making a regular donation for
as little as €7 a month, you
can help us make a profound
difference to the lives of
people who are blind or
vision impaired. Your support
Page 24
would be greatly valued
and appreciated to ensure
that NCBI can continue
offering these essential
services. Please consider
filling in the form enclosed
in this edition of NCBI News
or log onto www.ncbi.ie/makeregular-donation.
Overseas Events
Challenge yourself to make a
difference! NCBI offers a broad
range of inspiring challenges in
a host of destinations around
the world. Whether it’s climbing
Kilimanjaro, walking the Great Wall
of China, or trekking to the Base
Camp of Mount Everest, we have a
challenge that suits you.
Visit www.earths-edge.com, or
email [email protected] or
phone 01 8307033.