In the first full episode of “Out of Sight with Joe G” host Joe Geraghty welcomes us onboard and introduces the featured guest, Áine Stanley. Áine is Health Promotion & Physical Activity Practitioner at Vision Sports Ireland.

Can’t See, can be!

New ideas on how we wish we to spend leisure time quite often float like butterflies and then flutter into the night, Áine Stanley, with two decades of experience in the field, helps us to identify and develop our best ideas. She advises us to consider our overall wellbeing and how to recognise our achievements. Áine shares practical tips to motivate us to get active and embrace new activities.

Out of Sight Insights: Chess

This episode’s “Out of Sight Insights” explores chess, focusing on the current interest in the game. The segment, an extract from Joe’s successful book “Out of Sight! Stories of Ireland’s Blind and Vision Impaired Sportspeople”, explains Braille Chess. We’re taken on a journey through its early history, highlighting how this accessible version of chess can be enjoyed by everyone. Remember, you must check mate!

Whistling in the Dark

Michael Lavin, a living legend within Ireland’s blind and vision impaired community, shares his experiences with the tin whistle. The instrument is affordable, portable and easy to learn. Michael recommends where and how you can pick up and whistle in the dark, the park or for a lark.  

Out of Sight News

Jade McCormack presents the latest news, including updates on walking weekends, the multi-sport MayFest, VI Rugby, and developments in audible TV sports commentary.

Credits

• Host: Joe Geraghty
• Guests: Áine Stanley and Michael Lavin
• News: Jade McCormack
• Artwork: Katie Geraghty
• Music: Stuart Lawler and Jade McCormack
• Editor: Grainne Geraghty

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Life after the Launch

A year and a half later Joe returns with an update from Paris to Tokyo; from Presidency to podcasting!

Out of Sight! is published by Martello Publishing, and is available in all accessible formats: print, adapted print, braille and audio. Check out www.outofsight.ie.

Out of Sight with Joe G is a new podcast available on Apple, Spotify and wherever you listen to your favourites. Listen and see https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/out-of-sight-with-joe-g/id1873593436

From Paralympics to podcasting

Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?

18 months since Out of Sight! hit the bookshelves I still need to pinch myself and wonder did this all really happen?

Years may come, years may go but this one had it all.

As I was being interviewed by Pat Kenny on Newstalk and Tommie Bowe and Brooke Scullion on Virgin TV Katie George Dunlevy was cycling into golden history at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Katie had given me my poshest interview two years earlier as we sat sipping coffee at Dublin’s exclusive Merrion Hotel. Now with tandem pilot Linda Kelly they recently returned from Belgium where they won double gold at the World Road Championships.

Swimmer Róisín Ní Riain was making more medal history in Paris as well as, more recently, in Hong Kong. I was intermediary on Roisin’s initial sight classification in autumn 2019 so I was well aware a star was born. She was my last “Out of Sight!” interviewee and was hard to get as she is forever in the pool.

In the “Out of Sight!” chapter called Girls’ Talk I profiled track athletes Greta Streimekyte and Orla Comerford. Orla bronze medalled at the Paris Paralympiad.  A year later in New Delhi she won World double world gold while her friend  Greta also became golden girl.

“Out of Sight!” might never have featured on Pat Kenny and the Ray Darcy show were it not for former RTE Head of Radio Sport Ian Corr. Two years ago I sat engrossed in conversation with Ian in his cosy Churchtown home. Sadly, Ian passed away after a short illness on 18 April 2025. May Ian rest in peace.

While wrapping up “Out of Sight!” in April last year I received a call from Barry Ennis, Chair of Vision Sports Ireland. “Joe,” says he, “the Board of Vision Sports Ireland wish you to become our next President”. I’d say for the first time ever Barry heard my prolonged sound of silence! Shock is the only way to shut me up!

Of course I accepted. Now I could be a voice for all who gave blood, sweat and tears to make Vision Sports what it is today.

The Vision Sports role is honorary and non-executive. I sit in the passenger seat and celebrate the superb team led by Aaron Mullaniff and managed by Pádraig Healy. I’m in awe of their work and all credit goes to Kristina Millar, Sara McFadden  Sean Poland, Sean Moyles, Aine Stanley and Rosie Keogh.

Just like my Presidential pre-decacorns Liam Nolan, Fred Cogley, Colm Murray and Prof. Michael O’Keeffe my goal is to continue building awareness and understanding of the many sports and leisure options available to blind and vision impaired people.

My first official engagement as President was to visit the Park! Ah, but I skipped by Aras an Uachtaráin and popped into Farmleigh House to welcome home our heroic Paris Paralympians. Weeks earlier my last non-President role was to officially present, with my great friend Pat Kelly, the going away kit to each and every Paralympian at the Great Hall in the RDS. Bon voyage, Bienvenue!

Away from the glamour I traversed the country physically and virtually knocking on the doors of regional and local radio stations and newspapers. Podcasters, social media influencers and web editors came my was too.

I loved doing the conference circuit, almost always among friends in the disability sector. So many warm hugs and kind wishes.

I have no independent factual basis for believing one in five people heard about “Out of Sight!” but my stats tell me it’s true!  I loved the reactions from across the country. Nobody’s going to tell you your book makes good toilet paper but I was told it was the perfect bathroom read! It was lovely to receive calls and messages relating to how readers had found the book in their local bookshop, library, kindle or online.

After phenomenal work ChildVision published the Braille edition. Meanwhile, the Vision Ireland library recorded the studio audio version and distributed through Bookshare Ireland. The UK based RNIB picked up and sought permission to publish. Why not?

At Vision Sports Zero Limits in Mondello last July the guy in front of me in the lunch queue told me how he signed up to attend after reading “Out of Sight!”. I introduced myself and it quickly became clear he knew the book maybe better than myself. That’s the writer’s reward.

Some chancers have asked me if the book made me rich? You’re more likely to find an author in Stubbs Gazette, with tax defaulters, than on the Irish Times Rich List! Most sports book writers break even or lose while just the super stars end up in the black. I’m proud to say I’ll break even thanks to the advance sponsorship of Vision Ireland Foundation, the Granville Hotel and Kildare Co. Council.

Several high profilers praised or endorsed “Out of Sigh” including Pat Kenny, Eamonn Coghlan, Katie-George Dunlevy, Ray Darcy, Damien Tiernan, Declan Meehan and  Jason Smyth. There were many reviews out there too. I was thrilled with the syndicated review across many or Ireland’s regional newspapers written by the genial Anne Cunningham. According to Anne “Out of Sight!” is  ” a pure tonic…ever hear of Braille Chess? I hadn’t. Ever hear of a blind driver? They rip it up regularly at Mondello, using dual-drive cars. These people really don’t recognise boundaries and those people who assist them in reaching their seemingly impossible goals are solid gold. There’s plenty of ‘uplit’ fiction out there, but it’s truly heartening to read the ‘uplit’ facts in this book!”

After the book the film? Not quite, No calls from Netflix, Apple or Disney Plus. Sky did ring but that was a broadband upgrade!

And so I’m having a go at podcasting. Out of Sight with Joe G launched its trailer on 4 February 2025. It’s all about sharing hobbies and pastimes in a world of health and wellbeing. Get an earful of this https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/out-of-sight-with-joe-g/id1873593436

In 2025 Grainne and I become grandparents to Henry, son of our eldest daughter Claire and husband Eoin. We also had the big summer wedding as our baby daughter Katie married Graham.

The book now goes on the shelf as I pass time pondering podcasting pastimes.

Listen and see. https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/out-of-sight-with-joe-g/id1873593436

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Listen now to a new and exciting podcast teaser promoting health, hobbies, wellbeing and total fun. An Ideal listen for all who welcome living your best life it’s accessible and geared to those with blindness/vision impairment as well as families, friends and anyone who hangs out. Find it on all your favourite podcast platforms – Apple, Spotify, Libsysn – get an earful of this: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/out-of-sight-with-joe-g/id1873593436

“I loved chatting with 60 blind and vision impaired people, their families and friends for my book ‘Out of Sight!’ “, says host Joe Geraghty “Once it went to print I felt sad as I could have interviewed 600 more.

“The podcast gave me the chance to get back out and muck in with so many more great people. Unlike the book we can now go beyond sport and dig right into hobbies, some familiar, some rare. We’ll cover health and fitness and no doubt we’ll be sporty too. Where accessibility adaptations are required, we’ll cover these too.”

In the trailer teaser Stuart Lawler, well known voice to blind and vision impaired people in Ireland introduces Joe Geraghty, host of podcast Out of Sight with Joe G.

He chats with Joe about the reasons for doing the podcast.

He plays a montage of future guests including Jason Smyth, Jessica Kennedy, Michael Lavin and Bobie Hickey.

Stuart introduces Jade McCormack, the regular news reader.

He also chats with Grainne Geraghty who will edit and produce the podcast on a fortnightly basis.

Stuart also put Joe on the spot for fitness advice.

Watch out for the full episodes of “Out of Sight with Joe G” on 26 February on all your favourite podcast sites.

Talk to Joe 0831922891 or email outofsightwithjoeg@outlook.ie

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Get back to where you once belonged. Our century of change.

Jimmy, Paddy, and Johnny kick off a game of football on their local village green. School’s
out as the brothers enjoy a few weeks away from lockup in St Joseph’s School for Blind Boys
(JoJo’s), which they called ‘The Drum’ because of its Drumcondra, Dublin location.

It’s 1930s Ireland, and the midlands townspeople of Kilbeggan go shopping or to church.
Some may clock in for work at the nearby whiskey distillery, while others may prefer to have
it ‘distilled’ to them at the local pub.

The footballing siblings – all have hereditary eye conditions with resulting partial sight – are
having fun.

Two local gardaí pedal up and shout at the boys, ‘Go home, you’re not allowed out! If yis
don’t go home, we’ll send you back to your asylum in Dublin!’
Game over.

Fifty years later, the middle sibling, Paddy, was in Long Island, New York, where he saw his
son – that’s me – walk with the Irish team at the Opening Ceremony of the VII Paralympic
Games. On 19 June 1984, 9,000 members of the NYPD and US security services were on
hand as President Ronald Reagan welcomed the 3,000-plus participants.

No chance Paddy could be sent back to the asylum now. He was treated like a king by the
NYPD, who ensured he was well fed and watered.

Paddy, his siblings and his contemporaries came a long way in half a century: from not being
allowed to play sports in the open to their offspring competing on the world stage.

Extract 2: River deep mountain high

Paula Dorrington (Dublin) and Gus Dorrington (Dublin). Including athletics, mountain
climbing and skiing.

‘I’m still alive because of sport,’ Paula Dorrington tells me three times during my lunchtime
visit to her home. ‘I’ve been a diabetic since I was 9, which resulted in me losing my
eyesight. At 23, I became epileptic.’

Paula recalls finding sport – and love – at her new job at Blindcraft in the early 80s. Irish
Blindcraft, closed now for two decades, was the state agency that provided employment for
b/vi people in skills such as basketry.

Paula says, ‘One of the girls told me about Gus, who was working facing me all the time. He
was a runner, she said, who trained with a gang of b/vi athletes each Saturday. A few weeks
later, Gus asked me to join him at a session. I agreed but didn’t think I was going to run, as I
was diabetic and overweight. After a few exercises, I was wrecked, but coach Tony Guest
kept with me. When it was over, Tony asked me back the following week, and I thought, no
chance!

‘Then I checked my glucose meter, and I couldn’t believe it – my blood sugar had gone down
quite a bit.

‘Back at work on Monday, Gus asked if I enjoyed the Saturday session. I told him I loved it!
Gus offered to take me running midweek. He ran the eight-mile round trip across Dublin to
my home and back. We used a string to link us.’

Paula and Gus were soon tethered together in every sense and tied the knot in matrimony in
1997.

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The Characters of Out of Sight!

For the first time ever, we have a book which tells the stories of sport and leisure for blind and vision impaired people in Ireland.

Join author Joe Geraghty, the leading expert in the field, as he takes us on a whistle stop tour of 75 sports, the rules, and adaptations. He covers two centuries from fun to elite sport. Joe recorded 60 interviews with many incredible stories of unique achievements.

Dance along with Derry gold star Jason Smyth, undefeated Paralympic sprint champion for 18 years. Jason has won 21 Paralympic, World and European gold medals. In December 2023 Jason was inducted into the RTE Sports Hall of Fame.

Swim along with teenage sensation Róisín Ní Ríain (Limerick), two times Paralympian who has won 10 gold, silver and bronze medals and World and European Championships.

Go summer camping with Grainne Geraghty (Kildare), Jacqui McKeating (Dublin/UK), Margaret Hughes (Kildare) Breda Currid (Dublin) and Róisín Dermody (Carlow).

Skiing is believing as you slip, slide away with Dubliners Gus and Paula Dorrington, two-time Paralympians.

You’ll be off your trolley on schooldays sports with Des Kenny (Kildare), a onetime CEO of Vision Ireland.

Read of fundraising frolics with Gay Byrne, Eamonn Coghlan, Eamon Dunphy, Theresa Mannion, Eamon Duffy, and Micheal O’Hehir.

It’s a knockout with boxer and legendary marathon man Jim Gallagher (Mayo).
Delaney is no donkey at Marathons either. Michael Delaney (Dublin) has run, cycled, and played chess at the World’s top para-sports events.

Spin along in tandem with Katie-George Dunlevy (Donegal and UK), cycling’s most successful Paralympian ever.

It’s a family affair with Joe and Bernie Walsh (Dublin), Ann, Dean and Fiona Cusack (Waterford), Bernie Everard and Shane Clyne (Kildare).

Dip your toes into swimming with expert disability coach Frank Cullinan (Dublin). Hey Frankie, we do remember you.

Discuss discus with 12 times national champion Gerry Campbell (Longford).
Be run off your feet with Martin Kelly (Kildare), Ireland’s joint first blind/vision impaired Paralympian. Meet Martin’s late partner Anne the lady who wrote the letter to RTE that kicked it all off here.

On yer marks, get set with Ireland’s other joint first blind/vision impaired Paralympian Pat Kelly (Limerick and Louth).

Be educated by school principals Sr. Brid (Clare) and Marguerite Quinn (Limerick).

Ask Ana Maia (Brazil and Dublin) about sight classifications.

Enjoy tee-time with former RTE Head of Radio Sport Ian Corr (Dublin) who says the best thing about losing his sight was meeting Blind Golf Ireland founder Jimmy Murray (Kilkenny).

Was it a Carr? Was it a runner? It was both as Carol Carr (Dublin) became Ireland’s first Blind/Vision Impaired Paralympic Gold Medallist.

It’s a day, a night at the ball with futsal coach Tony Lyster and VI Rugby captain Sean McDowell.
Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side with Michael and Theresa Lavin.

Let’s hear it for the girls with Greta Streimikyte (Dublin/Lithuania), Orla Comerford (Dublin), Sinead Kane (Cork) and Hilary Devlin (Dublin).

Saddle up then for equine therapy with Audrey Darby.

A team of thousands hoped to mine by making Atlanta ’96 but just Bridie Lynch struck gold.
Chess nut Philip Doyle picks up the pieces for free, no cheque, mate. An Irish squad of hundreds tried to mine for gold at Atlanta ’96 but just one, Bridie Lynch (Donegal) emerged victorious.

Our leader of the pack, host, and Guest. Tony Guest recalls his friendship with the late John Newman.

Mick McKeon (Wexford), Ann Lyster (Dublin), Paul O’Rahilly (Kilkenny) bring it all home as they host the world’s biggest blind/vision impaired events here.

What goes on in the village stays in the village but what about what goes on outside the village?

Rahim Nazarali (Kenya and Dublin) will floor you with some amazing judo insights.

Jump into the world of multi-sport with seven-times Paralympian Catherine Walsh (Dublin).

When she was eight years old Annie Donnely (Tipperary) told a TV audience of 400,000 “Finding Vision Sports means I no longer have to sit on the side-lines.” Meet Annie and mum Kathleen seven years later.

Our eyes adored our late President Prof. Michael O’Keeffe. Read our tribute.

Boys just want to have fun including Fintan O’Donnell (Limerick), Conal McNamara (Mayo), Mick Clarke (Meath), James Brown (Down), Donnacha McCarthy (Cork), Shane Ryan (Limerick) and Tony Ward (Monaghan).

On our stairway to Kevin’s, we bump into Alex. Say hello to blind footballer Kevin Kelly and coach Alex Whelan.

Swing along with ex-NYPD captain Paul McCormack who lost his sight after 9/11 before turning to blind golf.

Wally Roode (South Africa and Dublin) failed conscription to the South Africa army as he could not read the eye chart, so he shot to London, found love, and is now a blind golf star in Ireland.

Liam O’Donohoe (Wexford), coach and manager, with players Babs Weiberg found a different love at tennis.

Tri, tri, and tri again and you too can be a top international para-triathlete. Coach Eamonn Tilley and player Chloe McCombe take us to the limits one more time.

It’s zero limits for ace rally navigator and vision impaired rugby player Sara McFadden.

And let’s not forget the crew at Vision Sports Ireland, Ireland’s national governing body for sport for blind and vision impaired people including Captain Aaron Mullaniff, First Mate Pádraig Healy, Second Mate Kristina Millar and their crew including Rosie Keogh, Sean Poland, Sean Moyles and Michael Keegan.

Some of the greatest stories never told. Probably.

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