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?

• "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 Ian.mckinley@visionsports.ie
• 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 foundation@vi.ie 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 digicoach@fightingblindness.ie
• Podcast: Tech Docs, featuring Stuart Haxell and Jade McCormack
• Podcast: Talking Technology, featuring David Redmond,

• 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: outofsightwithjoeg@outlook.ie

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.

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".

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.

"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.

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.

• "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 vcoffey2016@gmail.com. Phone 087 6201836
• "Seen, Unseen": Clare McLaughlin email claremclaughlinemail@gmail.com 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 Ian.mckinley@visionsports.ie
• 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 research@fightingblindness.ie
• 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: outofsightwithjoeg@outlook.ie

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

• "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 Library@vi.ie, phone 01 8642266.
• Galway Activity Group for Visually Impaired People: Paul Joyce, pauljoycepx@gmail.com, phone 087 6396995.
• Trip to Tipp: Billy Shanahan email billshan1954@gmail.com, phone 087 9253225
• Maynooth Greenway Walk: Veronica Coffey email vcoffey2016@gmail.com. Phone 087 6201836
• Seen, Unseen: Clare McLaughlin email claremclaughlinemail@gmail.com phone 086 3091653
• Vision Sports Portlaoise Hub golf: email sean.poland@visionsports.ie Phone 086 0129928
• VI Football (Laois and midlands): phone Ger 086 0717301

• 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: outofsightwithjoeg@outlook.ie

Blog: www.outofsight.ie/blog