After winning a prize in the 'Irish National Anthem in ISL' competition with Bishoptown Community School, we won a VIP trip to the Dáil
First stop - Heuston Station
Special thanks to train conductor Mark Wicks from Irish Rail for organising some gifts and a special treat for Ath Athy Sing Sign members. When we arrived, we were delighted to see a message on the billboard ‘Good Luck Today to Athy Sing and Sign’
Our members signed the Irish National Anthem in Irish Sign Language in the middle of Hueston Station. Thank you Mark Wicks and Derek Behan for organising the treats and the message.
Trinity College
We arrived at the Centre of Deaf Studies in Trinity College where Professor Dr John Bosco welcomed us and gave us the grand tour. We were so proud watching our members asking Dr John Bosco questions in Irish Sign Language. We felt very welcome at the centre of Deaf Studies. We also met the lovely Dr Lorraine Leeson, another Professor in Deaf Studies and Associate Vice Provost for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
We met two fourth year students, Vanessa Keating and Anna Gigilone, who acted as ISL interpreters, and our members got to ask them questions too. We wish those interpreters the very best of luck in their final year in Centre of Deaf Studies.
Dr John Bosco has also organised tickets for us to the Book of Kells. We really enjoyed seeing this beautifully illustrated medieval book.
Thank you so much Dr John Bosco for everything.
Leinster House (Dail Eireann)
We visited the Dail where we participated in their very first ISL tour. Senator Mark Daly who is also the Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann, welcomed us and personally guided us to the Dail and the Senead, where he talked about the long process of getting Irish Sign Language recognised as Ireland’s third official language, and also how the Dail works.
We performed the Irish National Anthem in ISL in front of the columns outside, which displayed posters celebrating the 100 years anniversary of the Seanad. We were then treated to a delicious lunch in the Oireachtas Restaurant. We were delighted to have lunch with Senator Mark Daly, two ISL interpreters, Caroline O Leary and Ciara Grant, and we were joined by the lovely Senator Fiona O Loughlin. We were also delighted to meet Senator Mark Wall.
We had such an amazing day at the Dáil & we would like to thank everyone there for making all of us feel very very welcome!
