Out of Sight With Joe G

Blind-sided after losing the sight of his left eye Ian McKinley rucked on to become a rugby Six Nations international. His second sight came about through adaptations including pioneering sports goggles. Ian talks us through his game of two halves from the Leinster Rugby Academy to Virgin Media pundit.
It's love all as Stuart Haxell, an international blind/vi tennis player, goes to court on his favourite sport. He explains how the adaptive game is played and invites us along to the Irish National Blind/Vi Tennis Championships in Shankill on the May Bank Holiday weekend. 
Is love all around as content creator Dave Redmond tackles blind dates? Dave, who is registered blind, explores various dating apps and then checks out speed dating. Love at first sight happens but what of love with no sight? 
Contacts and links
"Out of Sight! Stories of Ireland's Blind and Vision Impaired Sportspeople" book written by Joe Geraghty. Published by Martello Press it is available in all accessible formats www.outofsight.ie
MayFest Registration: Vision Sports Ireland https://visionsports.ie/mayfest/
Audio Description Six Nations Rugby feedback: email [email protected]
Dundalk Walk: Call Pat Kelly 087 7708200 / Maureen Madden 085 2656972
Trip to Tipp: Thurles Sarsfields GAA Club, Saturday, 27 June. Contact Vision Ireland email [email protected] phone 01 9133170
Irish National Blind/VI Tennis Championships: 2-3 May, Shankill Tennis Club, Quinn's Road, Shankill, Co. Dublin. attendance FREE. Registration to play, conditions apply:  https://ti.tournamentsoftware.com/find?StatusFilterID=2&DateFilterType=0&StartDate=2026-01-30&EndDate=2026-05-03&Distance=15&page=1
Digi Coaching: to register email [email protected]
Podcast: Tech Docs, featuring Stuart Haxell and Jade McCormack
Podcast: Talking Technology, featuring David Redmond,
Credits
Host: Joe Geraghty.
Guests: Ian McKinley, Stuart Haxell and Dave Redmond.
Reporter: Jade McCormack,
News and Wellness Tips: Grainne Geraghty
Art: Katie Geraghty
Music: Stuart Lawler and Jade McCormack
Editor: Grainne Geraghty 
Email: [email protected]
Blog: www.outofsight.ie/blog
Socials:Out of Sight with Joe G on Facebook and TikTok. Also, checkout Joe Geraghty on Linkedin and Instagram.

Bobbie Hickey, content creator and influencer, discusses challenges faced by blind/vision impaired people in social situations; Veronica Coffey takes us on a group stroll on the Maynooth Greenway while Clare McLaughlin takes us behind the "Seen Unseen" art project.
Hello Bobbie
27 years old Bobbie Hickey has undergone more than 200 eye procedures as she journeyed through the phases of sight loss. As a student, and long cane user, she encountered periods of the sound of social silence. But, when she became a guide dog owner everyone wanted to say "hello". Bobbie's take on making connections is fascinating and a "must listen".
Hello Veronica
Over 40 years ago Michael and Theresa Lavin, with the National League of the Blind of Ireland, led the way in east coast group walks. COVID could have put an end to it all but in stepped Veronica Coffey. We joined her for a walk on the wild side from Confey to Maynooth.
Hello Clare
"Seen Unseen" in an art project which can be heard, not unheard, as we chat with artist Clare McLaughlin. Concentrating on tactile, touch and audio Clare developed the concept in 2014. The project works for all but is particularly suited to blind/vision impaired people.
Hello, Goodbye
In our final item, Out of Sight News, Jade and Joe highlight Vision Sports MayFest, Six Nations audio description and the blind marathon runner who will be guideless. Grainne's wellbeing tip is all about kindness.  
 
Contacts and links
"Out of Sight! Stories of Ireland's Blind and Vision Impaired Sportspeople" book written by Joe Geraghty. Published by Martello Press it is available in all accessible formats www.outofsight.ie
Maynooth Greenway Walk: Veronica Coffey email [email protected]. Phone 087 6201836
"Seen, Unseen": Clare McLaughlin email [email protected] phone 086 3091653
MayFest Registration: Vision Sports Ireland https://visionsports.ie/mayfest/
Irish Blind Golf: https://irishblindgolf.ie/
Audion Description Six Nations Rugby feedback: email [email protected]
Dundalk Walk: Call Pat Kelly 087 7708200 / Maureen Madden 085 2656972
Paracycling Come and Try: Cycling Ireland on socials / phone 0 18551522
Coffee Morning: Fighting Blindness, email [email protected]
Credits
Host: Joe Geraghty.
Guests: Bobbie Hickey, Bob Auerbach, Veronica Coffey, Michael Mooney and Clare McLaughlin
News: Jade McCormack, Grainne Geraghty
Art: Katie Geraghty
Music: Stuart Lawler and Jade McCormack
Editor: Grainne Geraghty
Email: [email protected]
Blog: www.outofsight.ie/blog

Lina Kouzi, librarian at Vision Ireland, reads us into accessible digital; Tandem stoker Paul Joyce loses us on the Mullingar greenway;  Áine Stanley leads us down the garden path to her allotment while Ireland's greatest cyclist leads us on the trip to Tipp.
Books
Most books loaned out by Irish librarians are in print format. In contrast, most books loaned by Linz Kouzi of Vision Ireland (VI) are digital. Lina, Head of Library Access Services at VI reads us into the many formats now available. Book your read through your smart speaker, tablet, phone or computer. There's fonts of every shape, colour and size while Braille is still at your fingertips.
Bikes
The tandem, the bicycle made for two, is very popular with blind/vi people. Paul Joyce, from the Galway Activity Club, is a vision impaired tandem stoker. He chats about cycling weekends in Galway and beyond.
Botanics
 I beg your pardon, Áine Stanley never promised us a rose garden, but she does promise us a fruitful allotment. Aine, the Health Promotions and Physical Activity Practitioner at Vision Sports Ireland, digs into the early gardening season.   
Briefs
Jade McCormack has an EXCLUSIVE on which superstar will lead the Trip to Tipp on 27 June. She also has info on arts, golf, football and mindfulness before she walks away to the Maynooth Greenway.
Contacts and links
"Out of Sight! Stories of Ireland's Blind and Vision Impaired Sportspeople" book written by Joe Geraghty. Published by Martello Press it is available in all accessible formats www.outofsight.ie
Vision Ireland Library: Lina Kouzi email  [email protected], phone 01 8642266.
Galway Activity Group for Visually Impaired People: Paul Joyce, [email protected], phone 087 6396995.
Trip to Tipp: Billy Shanahan email [email protected], phone 087 9253225
Maynooth Greenway Walk: Veronica Coffey email [email protected]. Phone 087 6201836
Seen, Unseen: Clare McLaughlin email [email protected] phone 086 3091653
Vision Sports Portlaoise Hub golf: email [email protected] Phone 086 0129928
VI Football (Laois and midlands): phone Ger 086 0717301
Credits
Host: Joe Geraghty.
Guests: Lina Kouzi, Paul Joyce, Grainne Geraghty, Áine Stanley.
News: Jade McCormack
Art: Katie Geraghty
Music: Stuart Lawler and Jade McCormack
Editor: Grainne Geraghty
Email: [email protected]
Blog: www.outofsight.ie/blog

Dancing in the Dark
Let's dance with the fastest vision impaired athlete on the planet Jason Smyth MBE. We dance off too with Carol Carr and Jessica Kennedy in this Dancing with the Stars special.
Get up, stand up
Jason Smyth is the undefeated champion of both Paralympic sport and Dancing with the Stars. 
Chatting with host Joe G Jason discusses how he moved from Greece lighting to grease paint. He discusses ways to create greater awareness and understanding of blindness. You'll be up off your seat as Jason challenges you to find comfort while seated in any uncomfortable zone.
Feet of the Dancer
While born to run teenager Carol Carr developed much of her athletic abilities from learning the dance movements of Saturday Night Fever. She later become Ireland's first blind Paralympic athlete to win gold. While boarding at St. Mary's School for Blind Girls in Dublin Carol attended structured dance classes across a variety of genres. Between the jigs and reels Carol recalls some wonderful memories.
The Last Waltz
When Jessica Kennedy heard that her idol Jason Smyth was to be a contestant on Dancing with the Stars she popped him an email. She explained she had Stargardts eye condition, same as Jason, and that she was a dance instructor. To her surprise Jason promptly replied and invited her on to the rehearsal set and to the LIVE show.   
Out of Sight News
Grainne Geraghty presents the latest news on a new accessible fitness apps. She also brings us from parachutes to Paralympics. 
Contacts and links
 
"Out of Sight! Stories of Ireland's Blind and Vision Impaired Sportspeople" book written by Joe Geraghty. Published by Martello Press it is available in all accessible formats www.outofsight.ie
Visionaries Choir: email [email protected]
Sekond Skin: web www.sekondskinsociety.com
Credits
Host: Joe Geraghty.
Guests: Jason Smyth MBE, Carol Carr and Jessica Connolly.
News: Grainne Geraghty
Art: Katie Geraghty
Off-site recordings (Jason Smyth, Jessica Kennedy): Fighting Blindness, Dublin 1
Music: Stuart Lawler and Jade McCormack
Editor: Grainne Geraghty 
Email: [email protected]
Blog: www.outofsight.ie/blog

Introduction to the Episode
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