Thursday 21 May 2015
I'm just in the middle of a MayFest twitter blitz so just have a minute to tell ya some really exclusive news!
To add to the mayhem of MayFest this Saturday at Mount Anville we'll have an ice cream van and a bouncy castle! Can't wait to hop on the bouncy and then probably land on me ass!
So, when you're exhausted from the competition, "come and try" and demos (oh, where are those placards?) you can have a 99 or a bee-line for the bouncy.
Also, on the refreshments side we'll have complimentary tea and coffee from 11.30 and burgers and fries from 1pm.
Ah, I'm getting thirsty and hungry already and I've got to finish my twitter blitz!
See ya Sat. at 10 for registration with official event kick off at 11.
Sat 16 May 2015
I had just turned on the typewriter this morning to scribble edit next weekend's official MayFest programme when I heard pings all around me. Ipad, Iphone even my ipod, which was linked to a speaker, started pinging.
It was a little text from Trish Clyne telling me of how her hubby Shane is getting on. Co-incidence! I was just searching my oul head for a form of words to sum up Shane and his family for our official programme.
Suddenly, it became crystal clear. Normally, I would not pre-publish a page from an official VSI publication. But, I think you'll agree: Shane and his wonderful family are exceptional. Read on....
Last summer Trish Clyne from Maynooth contacted the VSI office. She explained that her husband Shane now had just 5% vision as a result of a tumour some months earlier. Trish wondered what sports options were open to Shane,
Within days Shane attended a ParaCycling Ireland Open Day and took to the tandem. Within months he was swimming 40 lengths at an indoor pool. Shane, a nationally known event manager, is a member of the 2015 MayFest Organising Committee.
Just three months ago Shane’s sister and brother in law, Bernie and Martin Everard, held a pub quiz to support Shane and VSI. 5,000 euros was raised: 2,000 to purchase a race tandem for Shane and 3,000 for VSI/MayFest.
Vision Sports Ireland would like to thank the Clyne family for such generosity considering the challenging circumstances.
Shane, you are an inspiratand you epitomise all that is good in our society. We are delighted to dedicate MayFest 2015 to Shane Clyne and, by extension, the entire Clyne family.
Wednesday, 6th May, 2015
Tomorrow the UK votes in a new band of MPs. Meanwhile, on MayFest eve we all get the chance to vote on whether we want 21 year old Presidents and same sex marriages.
All very serious matters so we thought we better hold a vote too! In doing so we bring back electronic voting.
The Question to beat them all is: what colour do you think the MayFest t-shirt should be?
You must decide whether pink stinks or yellow bellies look best! No Opinion Poll can tell you the score so don't go betting on the result or ya might lose you t-shirt! Go on now and vote and show your true colours.
Vote here!
Sunday, 3rd May, 2015
The evocative theme from Chariots of Fire will fire your emotions at 11am at Mount Anville on Saturday fortnight. Eamon Duffy will give the signal and VSI Chairman Robert Dobbyn and his special guests, will cry out: Let the (MayFest) Games Begin!
Here joeblogs leaks the official timetable which won’t be going to the printers for another ten days!
15 minutes after the Official Opening you could be heading off for a 15 or 30k tandem tour. Alternatively, you could flicker board, or play SNAG Golf, or try indoor rowing or watch a judo demo.
If you skipped the tandem tour you may wish to hop out on track at 1230 and find out all about tandem cycling.
6 sports already down we’ll head for a cool hot lunch at the MayFest Marquee from 1pm.
Around the same time Futsal kicks off at the sports hall. By 2pm Ian Rogers will take you through your warm up paces for our afternoon athletics and novelty programme.
Also, at 2pm you can go to the Blind Football actor turf area or return to the tandems for some easy trekking.
By three bells it will be anyone for tennis or for a gentle Park Walk to include both Mount Anville and Deer Park.
Goalball makes its debut at 4pm. Following some final novelty events it’s on the bus for either tenpin bowling at 5 or city centre for some Celtic Craic.
Don’t forget to book you Arlington Celtic Night tickets this week. See details here.
Sunday morning we’ll be coming down to the MayFest Swim Challenge at the MayFest (1-3pm).
Friday, 24th April, 2015
Just off the phone chatting with the legendary, larger than life, Eamon Duffy!
My good friend and fellow MayFest Org-Com colleague Pat Kelly invited Eamon to do MC at MayFest. Eamon immediately agreed. Now, we’re going to have a real day of craic.
I must confess I only met Eamon on a handful of occasions and that goes right back to his first days at NCBI, pre-Blazing Saddles.
Over the years he raised a gross 11 million euros for the NCBI with his cycling group Blazing Saddles and travelled the world to do so. He pioneered the great challenges of the world fundraising concept here in Ireland.
Eamon is also a great friend of vision impaired people and is always first on hand to assist a blind or partially sighted person. Indeed, next week he heads off to support and organise a major motor cycling event with the Trip to Tipp man Billy Shanahan.
Eamon is a perfectionist. The amount of details he has requested from me for MayFest is phenominal. I’d say we could fill a telephone directory! His wish will be my command and I’m glad to do so.
Eamon wants precise details on all events and those who will be participating. He plans to interview MayFest participants LIVE on the day. Be prepared for a bit of fun and slagging!
Like all on the MayFest Org-Com I am delighted Eamon will do this for us. Oh, for the atmosphere as we enter the final four week count down.
Friday, 24th April, 2015
This is my 5th decade of association with organised sport for vision impaired people in Ireland. Throughout that period there have been racing certainties: Liverpool average top 4 place in top flight English football; Kilkenny hurlers win All Ireland finals; Irish Governments are led from the right; Springsteen tops US music charts and Gaybo is somewhere on the radio. And here’s another racing certainty: for every year in those 5 decades I am asked when will we introduce Goalball to Ireland? And every year I reply: when a few people show interest!
I’ll come back to what this Goalball game is in a mo but just let me tell ya: wonder of wonders I got a response to a Goalball tweet earlier this week. My respondent – who was re-tweeted – believes that now may be the time for the arrival of Goalball in Ireland, at MayFest!
So, what the hell is Goalball? Over to Wikki:
“Goalball is a team sport designed specifically for blind athletes, originally devised in 1946 by the Austrian Hanz Lorenzen and German Sepp Reindle as a means of assisting the rehabilitation of visually impaired World War II veterans.[1] Participants compete in teams of three, and try to throw a ball that has bells embedded in it into the opponents' goal.[2] Teams alternate throwing or rolling the ball from one end of the playing area to the other, and players remain in the area of their own goal in both defence and attack. Players must use the sound of the bell to judge the position and movement of the ball. Games consist of two 12-minute halves (formerly 10-minute halves).[2] Eyeshades allow partially sighted players to compete on an equal footing with blind players.[2] Eyepatches may be worn under eyeshades to ensure complete coverage of the eye, and prevent any vision should the eyeshades become dislodged”.
I have promised the twitter man I will follow up for him as I think I know of a secret loacation where this sport was tried out a few weeks ago in the middle of Ireland! I’m on the case.
Goalball, MayFest? Maybe!
Saturday, 18th April, 2015
Shoe the donkey, shoe the donkey da,da,da,da,da,da….ah, get up the yard if you want to show the donkey!
The Walls of Limerick? Siege of Ennis? Look, between the jigs and the reels you’ll find none of this stuff at MayFest at the Arlington on the Liffey on 23rd May.
The Celtic Night at the Arlo is a modern Celtic fused professional 2 hours show which highlights modern Irish Culture? Think of Horslips, Philo, the vagabond of the western world and his unique Whiskey in the Bar, River Dance, Michael Flatfoot and all of that.
Sarah and I dropped into the Arlo the other day and requested front row seats for all. You gotta be there at 7pm on 23rd. You’ll be served a 3 course meal – starter, main course and desert – and then you can sit back, relax, enjoy the show or start foot tapping, clapping and singing straight away.
The show will set you back 20 Euros if you’re a VSI member (very heavily subsidised by VSI) OR 30 Euros if you’re not a VSI member (sure you’d join just to save the tenner!).
Very, very, very important though: you must have your money in for the show with us by 10th May. We must pay up for all who booked well in advance as this is a sell out night.
Sure you’d never know who might drop in or what may happen ….
Mighty craic. Loads of frolics,
Pioneers and alcoholics,
PLAC, SPUC and the FCA,
Free Nicky Kelly and the IRA.
Hairy chests and milk-white thighs,
And mickey dodgers in disguise.
Mc Graths, O'Briens, Pippins, Coxs,
Massage parlours in horse boxes.
There's amhráns, bodhráns, amadáns,
Arab sheiks, Hindu Sikhs, Jesus freaks,
My thanks to good old Christy Moore for finishing off tonight’s blog. See ya at the Arlo at MayFest and the Celtic Nights. Now, mind the sandwiches, Christy!!!!!
Wednesday, 8th April, 2015
The volunteer/participant relationship at MayFest is intriguing!
After each MayFest we ask all participants and volunteers to fill out a brief feedback survey.
We list off around a dozen headings from food and facilities to individual sports and organisation. Guess what? Participants rate volunteers at No. 1 and yes, volunteers rate participants as their No. 1!
Chances are most participants and volunteers have never met until MayFest weekend.
For the first time ever MayFest will be held this year in the grounds of Mount Anville in South Dublin on Sat. 23rd May. Now, the link with Mount Anville goes back over a decade as volunteer students form a core part of our organisation. Their leader is our leader Robert Dobbyn (VSI Chair).
So, here’s a little feedback on how one participant thanks of the girls:
“The volunteers were excellent and a big thanks you to the girls from Mount Anvil for helping out.”
So what do the Mount Anville ladies say:
“We wish to thank you for inviting us to come here. We had a great day and loved every minute of it.”
So, c’mon feel the buzz. Join us for the day and give a dig out at wherever you feel you are happiest. Maybe, assist a participant get from A to B or even M which stands for the Marquee where there’ll be fun and food. You can even join in the sport of it all and test your strength at tug of war or you skill at SNAG golf. In between you can show others the ropes (tug, tug) or even help at the tee and tea off.
Volunteer support is especially required for the Saturday element of MayFest at Mount Anville from 1100-1700. Get the full story here
I’ll leave you with the thoughts of one volunteer.
“It was just an inspiring day. I loved the golf, loved the tenpin bowling. I think today has given me a new perspective on life.”
Friday, 3rd April, 2015
Yesterday afternoon I saw our super office administrator Sarah sneaking out the front door with a copy of the MayFest Flyer under her arm. She was heading for the printers. So, I sneaked out the back door and let the air out of her bicycle! Well, I can be a bit of a spokesman anyway!
Sarah, says I, unless you give me a copy for this column, you'll be walking to the printers - they are only 30 miles away so I wasn't too cruel!
Always smiling Sarah didn't flinch - there ya go she says - all Vision Sports Ireland members and friends deserve to see this super flyer.
I knew what she meant once I saw the flyer and I was pumped up (and so was her bike). Being the flyer herself Sarah was at the printers sooner than you could say Stephen Roche!
You now have the exclusive preview of the MayFest Flyer. On yer bike now and please pedal it to all your friends!
Please download MayFest Flyer at bottom of page
Wednesday, 1st April 2015
Exciting news has just reached joeblogs that some of the world’s best players will take on our B1/Blind footballers at MayFest at Mount Anville on 23rd May.
The one and only Lino Messy has just told us "I am floored to be coming to MayFest. I don’t care if I’m carpeted. I always feel grounded and I won’t let anyone stand on me getting to Mount Anville”.
Meanwhile, Ron the hunk told us “I get off bale here so I’m looking forward to a real weekend away. Will that beautiful footballer Steven Roche be in town?”
Henry says he’ll drop from the sky to be here. He’s says he’ll stick to his usual hands-on approach and looks forward to a warm welcome from those ROI supporters with short memories.
Our special thanks to April O’Loonissy, temporary MayFest PRO, for bouncing this ball.
Monday, 30th March, 2015
Keep spreading the news ….
So, MayFest went viral this weekend but it wasn’t that easy! In the space of 24 hours we achieved more re-tweets than during the entire 4 months lead in last year.
But, let’s go back to Thursday morning first. NCBI News gave MayFest the works with a full page spread with words by Joeblogs and fantastic pictures from Karl Leonard.
25,000 hits?
Then Sarah launched our MayFest Entry form on “mailchimp”, a type of email campaign promo. She didn’t just send it to VSI members, friends, volunteers and local partnerships; she hit the print press too!
2,000 hits.
Then we put the Entry Form out on Facebook.
110 hits to date.
Then, I revved up the Twitter Machine and directly tweeted 250 contacts individually. Many re-tweeted the link to our Entry form: including our partners NCBI, Fighting Blindness and so many associated with welfare for vision impaired people. I haven’t a clue how many hits we got here except that around 1000 people visited the site to download the Entry Form. A conservative estimate would be that up to 80,000 tweeters saw reference to MayFest over the weekend.
In particular I wish to thank all of you, our members and friends, for re-tweeting. See below the top 15 most popular tweeters from more than 100 (actually, there was a guy with over 11,000 followers but I could not find him in that vast list in time for publication. Anyway, here’s the countdown:
Irish Sports Council (7967);
Irish Runner magazine (6811); Ji
Irish Cycling Federation (6681);
Jim Glennon (6047)
Irish Sport (5671);
Fighting Blindness (5408);
Melanie Noctor (3386);
Sporting Cork (2691);
Badminton Ireland (1885);
SNAG Golf (1650);
Select Hotels (1516)
NCBI (1447);
Mary Peters Trush (1354);
Liam Harbison 1269).
So, if more than 100,000 people saw some reference to MayFest this weekend and that’s a good start. Please can I ask that you keep spreading the word. The more who hear the more likely it is htat more people with vision impairment and their families find out more of what they can do outdorrs and indoors in sport and recreation.
Start spreading the news today
MayFest is on 23rd and 24th of May!
You can download your MayFest 2015 Registration Form and What's on Guide Here
Tuseday, 17th March, 2015
It may be mid-March and it may be St. Patrick’s Day but something happened today which was very special, very special.
Just before noon today Martin Everard rode though Maynooth on a tandem bicycle made for two Martin’s brother –in- law, Shane Clyne, was totally unaware the tandem was for hm.
Surprise, surprise.
So, what’s the story?
15 months ago local self-employed event manager Shane Clyne was diagnosed with a tumour. A secondary effect was eyesight loss. Shane’s sister-in-lawn Bernie contacted Sarah at VSI last summer. Sarah and myself had a chat and we made some suggestions relating to walking, running, swimming and tandem cycling.
About 6 weeks ago Shane, Trish and I met up. They said that Bernie was planning a local quiz to purchase a tandem for Shane, any surplus for VSI.
I attended the quiz and had a ball. They raised 5,000 euros of which 2,000 went ot purchase a tandem cycle and the balance goes to MayFest, the multi sports day for vision impaired people set for 23rd May.
At noon today In Maynooth joeblogs was presented with a cheque for Vision Sports Ireland: 3,000 Euros!
Now, for those of you with a MayFest knowledge you will be aware that Shane (national event manager) and Trish have joined our MayFest committee. So, guess what VSI event in 2015 has been fully funded?
D’ya know I was walking around my hometown of Maynooth of 27 years today – ok, I did have a large presentation cheque under my arm - and I was delighted to see the interest in VSI. I genuinely did not know how many people knew who we are. Maybe, it was Shane’s Quiz but VSI is definitely made it in Maynooth.
Have a very good St. Patrick’s Day. Chat soon.
Sunday, 15th March, 2015
Just 6 days to MayFest 2015 registration.
Yes, on this site, on Saturday 21st March, you can register for what promises to be the best ever MayFest.
This year’s reg will be the easiest ever as you will only be asked for a few basic questions.
You won’t need to tell us whether you are into table cricket or athletics, table tennis or tenpin bowling. SNAG golf or night training, or even Blind Football or judo.
We’ll be all together this year at MayFest, under one marquee and joeblogs has a special message:
“I’ve been around since day 1, 1981, and that was very special. However, MayFest 2015 could be extraordinary. I can’t explain but there is something extra this year and it’s not just that all will be under one roof”.
Special prize for whoever is first to sport the bit of creative writing - I mean re-edit - above!
Thursday, 12th \March 2015
The great 18 hour controversy over vision impaired runner Sinead Kane, who could not enter the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon accompanied by her guide runner John O’Regan, ended quietly this morning. Peace now reigns and fair play to Sinead and John for breaking new ground. This will benefit many more vision impaired runners in the future.
Let me say it loud and clear: MayFest, our multi-sport extravaganza set for Mount Anville on 23rd May, will accept runners and guides of all genders and we don’t give a damn how you partner up as long as you’re happy!
I officiated at the first Evening Press Women’s mini marathon back in 1984. A few thousand women turned up including 6-8 vision impaired runners that I knew of. Journo and runner Lindie Naughton, a great supporter of running and vision impaired people, was key to spreading the world, publishing schedules and tips. Last time I checked it out Lindie was still in the thick of it.
The mini marathon is now the greatest women’s only race in the world with a proud tradition.
Over the years many vision impaired women have taken to the mini-marathon. Many don’t declare their disability but some do. Each year the marathon organisers acknowledge the top declared vision impaired runners and we must say thank you and well done to the organisers.
I only became aware of Sinead’s predicament at tea-time yesterday. As I look after social and web media for Vision Sports Ireland I soon found myself in the thick of controversy as we got mentioned maybe 70-80 times in tweets and retweets. What amazes me most is I just cannot believe this has not happened in the past (although I assume the organisers may not have been aware). I have anecdotal evidence of at least one husband who guided his totally blind wife around the course about 12 years ago but I can’t stand up in court and verify!
It was shortly after 10 am today when Helen Vaughan of TodayFM news contacted me and said there was a solution and requested a response from me. So, the dust has settled and it’s sorted now for once and for all. Great credit is due to our modern day marathoner and ultra-runner Sinead Kane and, of course, her new guide the legendary ultra-champ himself John O’Regan.
I’m not sure how the Mini Marathon organisation got it so wrong but they most certainly did! Yes, they got backed into a corner early today and they came out waving the white flag. But, they have been so good to our dozens of female participants over the years so let’s remember that too.
Finally, don’t forget, if Sinead’s story grabbed your attention and fired up your interest in running and sport for vision impaired we have MayFest. Come along and check it out: observe, volunteer, and maybe even participate! We’ll have competition, come and try in over a dozen sports from athletics to tandem cycling; from SNAG Golf to blind football; from tennis to table hockey! Oh yeh, there’s the tug o war where all can get stuck in!
Sorry, should not have mentioned the (tug o) war again!
Snday 8th \March 2015
So, spring has finally srung, so has this blog…
Joeblogs will be hitting you at least twice per week over the next three months…
Joeblogs has a lot to catch up on so let’s start today with the 2 Shanes (both of whom were diagnosed with similar critical medical condtions early in life).
Shane 1 came along to our Athletics |relend / Vision Sports Ireland sessions last autumn..He had been hospitalised with a tumour 5 years earlier. Athletics Ireland senior coach Ian Rogers supported by Joeblogs guided Shane 1 though warm ups, cool downs and much in between including long jumps and shot putts. With Shane’s mum we met up at the Dublin 15 Club last month and it was a total delight. I recommended a few possible additions to the D15 schedule for Shane but, to be fair, they had worked out most so this already. Shane will be at MayFest.
Shane 2 came along to a tandem day last summer having first contacted Sarah at our office. As regular visitors of joeblogs will be aware Sarah and joeblogs are in regular communication. Shane 2 was a top event manager until he found he had a tumour. By pure accident Shane 2 lives within the puck of a slitter from joeblogs so we met up. Shane’s sister in law Bernie recently ran a most amazingly successful quiz. Shane is already an honorary member of our MayFest Org Com. More to follow…
Both Shanes have different experiences and requirements but, both would like to be at MayFest 2015.
So, within the next 10 days entries will open for MayFest 2015. We will sneak you the details well beforehand (exclusive to joeblogs followers).
Friday 20th February 2015
What’s in and what’s out for MayFest 2015?
IN: Blind Football. Many of the world’s top players including David Beckham, have given this sport a go. Blind Football Ireland will join us at Mount Anville on Sat. 23rd May. We hear they’ll have pop in with a pop-up pitch! Can’t wait.
IN: Tug o ’war. You don’t have to know the ropes to heave ho here. We ran out of time to have a battle last year but we’ll have you on the ropes this year, for sure.
IN: SNAG golf. Michael O’Keefe and his merry team return to MayFest following their very successful days with us in previous years. Even if you’re below par you can putt, ping, pitch in and play. A great sport and real fun.
IN: Athletics. Track competition with all distances catered for. On yer marks, get set …..let’s all go.
IN: The tandem cycle trail tour. Have a go and saddle up and take the short tour around scenic Mount Anville.
IN: The tandem time trial and tour: final venue and time not set for these events as we’re seeking a larger private road structure. However, It will definitely happen so get training now for a 10 or 20 miles spin in South Dublin.
IN: Tenpin bowling: This generates a truly great atmosphere and will be the grand finale of MayFest 2015 as we move down the road from Mount Anville to Stillorgan Leisureplex.
IN: Novelty. Night Line? What’s that? Sounds like a blindfolded run across an obstacle course. Then there’s scootering plus 3 legged races and who know who gets the sack.
IN: Futsal. Hopefully we’ll get an international tournament going here. One way or other this year’s tournament will be held at Mount Anville on the Saturday make this your goal.
PROBABLES: Judo, adaptive tennis, indoor rowing, garden walk.
POSSIBLE: Table cricket. Hopefully this new sport won’t be all out but all in. Promises to be fun.
MayFest Saturday will be at Mount Anville on Saturday 23rd May. Entry details will issue on 16th March.
Tuesday 3rd February 2015
On March 16th entry to MayFest 2015 will open.
In the meantime MayFest is like a jigsaw. We know how it should look but we must add in some pieces (hopefully, we didn’t lose any pieces along the way).
Already in place: Dates 22nd to 24th May (UK Bank Holiday weekend); Event venue: Mount Anville Private School in Goatstown in south Dublin where we’ll have a marquee and extensive outdoor and indoor facilities; Saturday night celebrations at the Celtic night at the Arlington Hotel, Dublin 1; sports already in include athletics, SNAG golf, tandem cycling, tandem tour, tenpin bowling, walking, flicker boarding and much more.
Of the pieces now to be added we are seeking out preferred accommodation (almost sorted); adding in a few more activities as well as finalizing the Friday night launch. While not confirmed the Board of Vision Sports Ireland are investigating adding in our AGM and possibly our Strategic Plan interspersed with some fine food and refreshments.
Over coming weeks we’ll finalise our 1000 piece jigsaw and will seek your help and advice if we are unsure where to place one or two pieces.
Thursday 15th January 2015
It’s just 126 days to MayFest 2015 weekend -22nd – 24th May.
I think it’s time to introduce you to members of our Org-Com.
Let’s start in alphabetical order and meet Ann Cusack, Honorary Secretary of the State of Montana! Ann was awarded the Seal of Montana in recognition of her connection with Thomas Francis Meagher, the man who gave us the Irish tricolour.
I have to tell you I only found out today that Ann had received such a prestigious honour although she had mentioned her connections with Thomas Francis Meagher on an occasion or two in the past. Brigadier General Meagher was born in the Granville Hotel in Waterford, a hotel now in the ownership of Ann Cusack and her family.
I first came across Ann during the lead up to MayFest 2013. She rang me to check out some detail for her nephew Dean who is a MayFest participant.
I knew straight away Ann was someone special. She was bubbly and fired with enthusiasm. Over coming months her observations and ideas were most helpful. When putting together MayFest for 2014, and the current MayFest, Ann just had to be on our Org-Com. Thankfully, she was game for it.
You’ll not mistake her at MayFest 2015 as she is sure to be everywhere. Organising events, refreshments and god knows what. She has a keen eye for what’s working and what’s not so that’s really helpful during a fast moving weekend..
In a recent email Ann wrote…..
“I think your project plans are super, very clear, everybody knows who is doing what and when and where”, Ann wrote. “It really acts as a blueprint, and each year you don't have to reinvent the wheel”. No, I’m not blushing as these comments are really directed at our MayFest Org-Com collectively.
Now, we get to solve some of the mystery as Ann’s links to American history as she writes: ”In fact we are now doing something similar for another committee I am on...this year I am Chair of the 1848 Tricolour Celebration which takes place in Waterford, weekend of Fri 6th to Sun 8th March. It's a historical and cultural Fest, commemorating our National Tricolour, which was designed by Thomas Francis Meagher and flown for the first time in Waterford on the 7th March 1848, the concept of the Flag...Green for the South, Orange for the North, and White in the middle for Peace between the two...just as significant today as all those years ago. Thomas Francis Meagher a very flamboyant figure, was born in our hotel (The Granville), went on to become a Patriot in both Ireland and America, and died in mysterious circumstances in Montana where he was Governor”.
So, how about that?
I did a little research this morning and found out more about Thomas Francis Meagher.
From the website - http://www.granville-hotel.ie/en/granville-hotel-history/ - I found out that “Brigadier General Thomas Francis Meagher of the famous Fighting 69th and The Irish Brigade distinguished himself in the American Civil War Thomas Francis Meagher went on to become Secretary to the territory and Governor of Montana. He was a Pall Bearer at Abraham Lincoln’s Funeral.”
I kinda knew our MayFest Org-Com was well connected but I never thought we’d go all the way to Montana and Washington DC.
Thursday 18th December 2014
With logs on the fire, and the weather is dire, how could I possibly guide you towards MaYFest 2015. So, I won’t!
As we look back at MayFest 2014 there were three people who stood out.
Jimmy Gallagher won a Hall of Fame award for outstanding services to sport and admin. Now, I first met Jimmy G at St. Joseph’s School for Blind Boys in the mid-60s. A Mayo man he had a little sight then and loved sport. An early inspiration.
In the late ’70s Jimmy came on my radar again. Now, he was a pioneer of marathon running for blind people. He turned up at my brother’s house in Naas having ultra runned cross country.
Later I was to combine sport and admin and found Jimmy G a big opponent! To be fair I was an upstart and Jimmy needed to put me in my place! We were both right!
In the mid-80s I had had enough and packed it all up when Jimmy G played a key role in opposing my plan to re-imburse a coach for expenses incurred. Ironically, the same scenario played out 7 years later. I stayed neutral while Jimmy G. argued my case from previous era. We both won!
I remember telling Jimmy how the coaching expenses were paid out in the ‘80s despite it being voted out of order at an EGM. I think he was shocked but I think he also privately admired what I did!
Jimmy G and I are now buddies and have been for a long time. It was Jimmy who persuaded me to return to our organisation. Thank you Jimmy, I hope I can help VSI.
Frank Cullinane also won the Hall of Fame award at MayFest 2014. I had heard of Frank for decades but only got to (knowingly) meet him at MayFest 2013. Frank coached the girls at St. Mary’s School for Blind Girls in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. When our first May Games took place in 1981 it was so clear that the girls were better than the boys. Nothing changes!
Frank absolutely loves sport, not least swimming. Every time I meet his pupils the rave about him for 16 minutes or more. What a man!
So, now to joeblogs final MayFest person of the year….
He’s the Chef to beat them all. I recall ringing him on 14th February last to finalise MayFest details. “Sorry Joe” he says, “I’m cooking up something special here. Yeh, I will skip the Ras to do MayFest but could I ring you back in a mo as I don’t want to burn the stew.”
So, where does a chef end up? This week he has been announced at the Chef de Mission of Ireland’s Rio Paralympic team. Congratulation Denis Toomey!
Denis has been a friend of sport for vision impaired people for 14 years. He is also President of Cycling Ireland. So, when the Pres says he’ll skip a key point of his calendar to do MayFest I think he deserves our wholesome praise.
To Jimmy G. Frank and Denis. I wish you a Happy Christmas.
To all joeblogs followers I wish you a Happy Chirstmas.
Happy sporting Christmas to all.
Friday 11 December 2014
On my last visit here I gave you three clues about MayFest 2015:
1. MayFest 2015 will be the marquee VSI event of the year!
2. We will be moving to private grounds previously inhabited by goats!
3. The MayFest social highlight will be in a league of its own!
So, let’s help you a little more:
So, let’s start by acting the goat: MayFest 2015 will be held in Goatstown! MayFest 2015 will take place at Mount Anville School private grounds on 23rd and 24th May. Mount Anville has a wonderful outdoor all weather sports ground which can be marked up to suit our needs. Mount Anvill also has a wonderful indoor sports arena.
Our marquee event of year? Well, of course, and we’ll erect a marquee which can seat up to 100 people overlooking the outdoor sports grounds. All Saturday Mayfest events will take place between 11 am and 5 pm in the grounds of Mount Anville. Unlike previous years no events can be staged away from our central marquee.
We will, however, accommodate tenpin bowling outside Mount Anville at 5pm on the day.
Social highlight in a league of its own? Yeh, this may have been the easiest clue as it refers to the National League of the Blind of Ireland’s hq on Dublin’s Hill St. Final details have yet to be worked out but we hope to stage a social event there on either the Friday or Saturday of Mayfest.
Ok, back to the shopping, the parties, wrapping and the Christmas songs now. See ya soon.
Saturday 29 November 2014
Six long months I spent up in Dublin,
Six long months to learn nothing at all,
Six long months I spent up in Dublin,
Learning new steps for the MayFest Ball.
He stepped out and I stepped in again…
Hello, hello, joebloggs is back after six months. Nah, I can’t sing, I can’t dance but I’ll go a long way!
Amazingly, this blog has doubled its following since I last wrote on June 4th. So maybe the message is that I say it best when I say nothing at all. But sure that’s not the form of joebloggs …
We’ve just formed our MayFest 2015 Org Com and Chris steps out as co-ordinator and I step in again. Roisin steps it out as deb but more about that in coming blogs. For what it’s worth my son Chris is doing his finals in aviation engineering – he’s flying - so he can’t co-ordinate MayFest but he hopes to be around on the day.
I am banned from telling you the official plans for MayFest 2015. However, this doesn’t stop me from giving you a few cryptic clues:
1. MayFest 2015 will be the marquee VSI event of the year!
2. We will be moving to private grounds previously inhabited by goats!
3. The MayFest social highlight will be in a league of its own!
You’ll find all the hottest MayFest 2015 gossip on this page in coming days, weeks and months.
I’ll leave you with the big dates: take out your tablets, phones, 2015 calendar or whatever you have under your blanket and mark up 22nd to 24th May, Dublin, Ireland for MayFest 2015 for fun, sport, competition, come and try, demos and even more fun, fun, fun.
I’ll step out and you step in again, you step out and I’ll step in again. Ah, heck, let’s all step into MayFest 2015.
MayFest Report – Part 5 of 5
updated 2nd June 2014 .....
It’s all over now. This blog ends here.
For four months at least 150 of you have read most blogs. Our total hit ratio is close to 4000 which is a kind of record. Thank you so much.
From the inside track there are so many who made MayFest 2014 happen.
As I write my son Chris is heading off on hollers as he sets out to canoe through Slovenia. He was your first point of contact for the last few months but he’s unlikely to be around next year as he resumes his studies at DIT.
The other special MayFest link is Sarah. Sarah absolutely knew nothing about vision impaired sport a year ago, now she’s an expert! If anybody personifies what VSI is about it must be Sarah.
Last weekend joeblogs got credit and credit where credit is due; however, there are several other people who were up there with joeblogs.
Our Org-Com is something else. Just incredible.
Ann Cusack was the heart and soul of the weekend while Fran Tyrel sorted out so much. Caroline Fogarty is a real find and she jus will not stop. Pat Kelly is the reason we got to this point as he was our ultimate pioneer while Tony Lyster is always there when it matters most. Gerard Watchorn quietly slips in and out.
Behind any man is a woman. In my case I have some wonderful girls from my wife Grainne - who looked after the Braille programme - to Claire and Katie. Ellie deserves a little mention as she loves MayFest and looks after our e-zine.
So then there’s our Board. They are so patient and so supportive. While I cry and inwardly panic they just stand there and offer whole hearted support. When you have Robert (Chair) and Colm (Sports Chair) by your side you are safe. Roisin, David, Ann, Alan and Maria: thank you
Special thanks must go to the various sports and activity organisers including Michael Lavin (walking); Michael O’Keefe, (SNAG Golf); Joe Cunningham (rowing); Rahim Nazarili (judo); Lara McDonnell (spinning) as well as Martin Ryan and Tom Maxwell (bowling).
Each year we depend on our patrons: Sarah, Joe, Grainne, Colm, David and Michael. These people put their hands in their pockets. Thank you.
So to our volunteers: all of our feedback says you were tops; thank you so much..
..and finally there's YOU! Yes, it was your pariticipation which made it a special weekend. Thank you.
Over the next month our Org-Com and Board will review MayFest 2014 with a view to improve.
For me it’s a bit like the Hotel California: I can check out anytime I like but I will never leave. Roll on 2015.
MayFest Report – Part 4 of 5
Saturday - Sd 24th and 25th May 2014 - updated 1st June 2014 .....
Last weekend was full of talk of One Direction to the Dail and Europe. Everywhere you went last weekend they spoke of Luke: some said the first thing he would google was the route from Brussels to Amsterdam!
Well at MayFest we were off grass as we held indoor futsal and Luke was king: 17 years old who is just such a talent. The previous day Kevin was king at B1 Football. Nobody saw how good they were but our intrepid reporter Tony has just filled me in.
On Sunday we held a joint - off grass - walk with the NLBI walking group along the sun soaked Malahide to Portmarnock and back route. It was so beautiful. It was so good to meet Frances, Rebecca and all at Angel Eyes too. Let’s build.
And, there we were, relaxing on the Saturday night when Frank approached. Joeblogs, he says, can I introduce his family. Of course, I could but I had absolutely no script.
I absolutely adore melody. Back in the ’60’s you had 15 seconds on your “45” record to impress and 3 minutes to finish your song. The Beatles could do it so brilliantly as could the Kinks, Hollies, Beach Boys and Bee Gees. The Kelly Family Vocal Ensemble knows all about it and sang from the repertoire of the Monkees, Mary Hopkin and Mamas and Papas plus more recent melody from U2 and more. Take it from someone who has been paid as a critic; they are simply the best.
Whatever your event from cradle to grave you should really book the Kelly’s https://www.facebook.com/TheKellyFamilyVocalEnsemble
So, each night before I go to bed my baby, I whisper a little, play for me my baby, and play whatever sport you like at MayFest!
Yes, I’m a believer; I couldn’t leave MayFest even if I tried. Roll on 2015!
MayFest Report – Part 3 of 5
Saturday 24th May 2014 - updated 31st May 2014 .....
There wasn’t a sign of strawberries and cream at our adaptive tennis trials. However, the cream did come out on top as Wally, Alan, Gus and many more made it game, set and match to the first ever event of its type here.
Caroline, from our Org-Com, had no knowledge of vision impaired sport up to a year ago. She sure is interested in progressing this new sport.
Lara looked after a small but focussed group for spinning and certainly did an excellent job in its promotion.
The sports hall was getting a little quieter now with a few testing their football penalty skills while Michael was coaching SNAG golf as no one else can.
Out on track it had just burst into life. Fran had a boot load of sports gear and she set challenges for all. 80m, 100m and so on right up to 3000m. There was even competition there between the megaphones as Pat K took to interviewing winners while Dave the DJ got into the swing with some rousing commentaries. Ross managed a hat trick of wins over 100m 800m and 3000m
Sssssh, did someone say tenpin bowling had started? Quicker than you could say “spares and strikes” they were gone. Dozens exited the track for the great indoors.
The atmosphere was electric at the tenpin bowling alley where Fiona and her mum Ann were running the show with the Mount Anville third years in the midst of it all. Where chaos was fun some absolutely amazing scores were achieved the shrieks and hollers of all who attended.
Then, we thought it was over, but it wasn’t!
When your mind and body have had enough and your thoughts of a bbq take control you are gone, gone, gone. All of you is gone, gone, gone! As the outfield was empty we said that was it. So, my job was to say it’s over. Horrible job but personally relieving. Then a 5 years old girl asked me about an egg and spoon race. I looked around and saw no competitors! Suddenly, there were 10! It was the first event I got to organise at ground level all day. More followed! It was fun, fun, fun!
We made it indoors eventually where Robert and Chris were finalising presentation details. Among the certs for swimming and medals for tenpin bowling and track cycling there was alos one more special prize to go. Minutes beforehand the ultimate winner came over to me for a chat. As our Chair Robert began the citation for Hall of Fame the whisper was that it was going to one member of our MayFest Org-Com. Then, half way through, the eventual recipient believed it was going to another member of our Org-Com. So, then came the moment! Our legend and the first athlete ever to win the award was called! Jimmy Gallagher shed a tear. What a moment!
Jimmy is a true legend who has run 34 matathons, ski-ed, saled, climbed mountains and has been a first class back bencher on and off our committees for 30 odd years.
As the wind blew in the aroma of bbq smells it was time to relax.
But Saturday was sitll not over and an othe rmajor highligt was to follow ...... watch this space to find out about real melody makers.
MayFest Report – Part 2 of 5
Saturday 24th May 2014 - updated 29th May 2014 .....
With one flick the flickering scooters were out in the main sports hall at ALSAA last Saturday morning. Ann and Fran from our Org-Com provided the steer and the gear. Roll on MayFest main day.
300m away Martin, Tom and Seamus from Blackrock Lawn Bowling Club were setting up the more sedate ALSAA Bowling green. Like the flicker scootering this was also a new MayFest sport and attracted a significant number of interested parties including Guss and Paula, They reckon Victor was a real find there.
Back at base the call came in for Christine from Brighton. She had disappeared and they were waiting for 3 miles away at the Tandem Time Trials. Search party out her was found sneaking a coffee and was quickly dispatched to the start. It’s ok; coffee is not an illegal substance. At the tandem cycle start you could find Denis, the race director, with Caroline, Chris and Eileen on reg. Bob and Dominic made their cycle debut there and eventually found themselves in the medals. The high viz high value stewards included Tony, Sean, Sinead and many more.
Meanwhile in the sports hall Michael O was setting up SNAG Golf while Joe C was setting up rowing machines. SNAG – So New at Golf – is a big MayFest favourite since introduced to us by Paul at the Irish Blind Golf Association last spring. Rowing became part of the old May Games and is a real much loved fitness test where Bethany and Michael ultimately excelled.
As the final glow of flickers disappeared the judo team appeared and put on an excellent demo and provided great instruction.
Judo was supposed to be an exhibition - and it was! However, such was the interest that several of those wathing joined in. The organisers from the Irish Judo Association, were delighted to meet so many who knew and loved the sport. Our special recognition goes to Rahim for taking so much time out to make the arrangements.
Then along came the peloton. Gerard and his team had travelled by tandem from the Phoenix Park to entertain with some track tandeming. Many saddled up for a 1 mile challenge.
The lure of lunch and then the first of two big presentations of the day:
Earlier Frank Cullinan and I were in a wind up and he says that he would always have the last word. Silly Fran! He became only our 4th recipient of the prestigious Hall of Fame Award. Tears poured for a brilliant volunteer swimming coach. As he departed we jokingly agreed we would be in NAMA if he sent us in an expense sheet!
Over coming days I’ll pop in reports for remainder of last weekend.
MayFest Report – Part 1 of 5
Friday 23rd May 2014 - updated 28th May 2014 .....
They were supposed to be heading for One Direction but it seemed last Friday afternoon many had Lost Direction. Dublin city was in chaos and for a while I thought we’d lose many for our MayFest Meet and Greet, just a mile from Croker and 1D.
In the end 40 plus turned up at the National League of the Blind function room for what was a very friendly get-together.
The first person we met on the night was Celina, the League’s administrator. You can put your foot in it as much as you like with Celina as she’s about to qualify as a chiropodist.
Thomas and Tom, from Claire and Tipp respectively, were next in and loved our Braille programmes. Michael came along with his mum Lorraine as we chatted about sport, music and politics. Christopher and his mum Sandra popped in and we moved on to judo and athletics.
Chris form our Org-Com had setup a series of videos on the big screen where PJ and Tony were entertained for a while.
Tony’s daughter Emma was our quiz master for the night and she was brilliant and funny. While I had set the questions Emaa had a major job sorting them as I did it all in a hurry. Questions were multi choice so sympathies to those who thought Jimmy Snail was fastest Paralympian on earth; that Gerry Adams is the new Minister for Justice; that Mary Robinson was 85 last week and that Dublin Corporation painted the Sistine Chapel. A lot seemed confused about Free Willie too.
A quick raffle raised 130 Euros, thank you all. Ann from our Org Com had arranged the prizes while Chris and Caroline, also from the Org-Com kept the scores on the board.
We met many more at the League last Friday night including Board members Jimmy and Michael. Lovely to meet old Paralympic colleague Gerry and his wife Bridget.
We had to pull a few strings to arrange transport home for many as One Direction fans had, by now, taken over central Dublin. Thank you to those who helped.
Some ended up like a rolling stone with No Direction Home, others Lost Direction and headed in One Direction: back to the bar!
For my family we had a busy Saturday ahead so we headed to bed.
Over coming days I’ll pop in reports for remainder of last weekend.
Watch this spacer!
Sunday 25th May 2014
What a day, what a night, what a weekend!!! And, it's all over now.
Of at least dozens of moments I will publish just 3 for now
1. Sat 24th 1348: Earlier Frank Cullinan and I were in a wind up and he says that he would always have the last word. Silly Fran! He became only our 4th recipient of the prestigious Hall of Fame Award. Tears poured for a brilliant volunteer swimming coach. As he departed we jokingly agreed we would be in NAMA if he sent us in an expense sheet!
2. Sat 24th 1652: When your mind and body have had enough and your thoughts of a pint take control you are gone, gone, gone. All of you are gone, gone, gone! As the outfield was empty we said that was it. So, my job was to say it’s over. Horrible job but personally relieving. Then a 5 years old girl asked me about an egg and spoon race. I looked around and saw no competitors! Suddenly, there were 10! It was the first event I got to organise at ground level all day. More followed! It was fun, fun, fun!
3. Sat 24th 1802: Minutes beforehand this gentleman came over to me for a chat. As our Chair Robert began the citation for Hall of Fame the whisper was that it was going to one member of our MayFest Org-Com. Then, half way through, the eventual recipient believed it was going to another member of our Org-Com. So, then came the moment! Our legend and the first athlete ever to win the award was called! Jimmy Gallagher shed a tear. What a moment!
This blog is almost over. When it’s gone it’s also, gone , gone, gone!
Saturday 17th May 2014
Suddenly, over the last 6 months, our media, followed by politicians and public, have awoken to payments of commissions and fees to charities.
Let me tell you straight up: MayFest 2014 will pay no official!
Every single person is a volunteer. Yes, we will pay for venue, equipment hire, commercial services, transport, product and food – at a negotiated cost – but everyone present will offer their personal service without cost. Some NGBs for sports represented may pay nominal expenses but nobody will be financially rich after MayFest 2014.
At least 40 volunteers will turn up for MayFest next weekend. They will travel from across the country and not one will request petrol money.
The general issue in relation to fat payments to charity officials will never be found in Vision Sports Ireland. We’re so different.
I can now confess, for the first time in 21 years, that I was a source for articles published in the Sunday Press and RTE’s Today Tonight. In summary I whistle blowed on commissions being then paid to charities. The then Government didn’t act, I think now they will.
So, moving to the present let me introduce you to the 10 volunteers who have steered us towards MayFest nest weekend. Let’s meet our Org-Com:
Ann Cusack is a champion of CampAbilities as her grandson, Dean, is a popular member. We met her last May for the first time and we go on so well we said we must meet again.
Caroline Forgery was introduced to us by Colm Larkin (our Board member) from the Central Bank. Like Ann Caroline is a born organiser who would not go home last year!
Fran Tyrrell, purely by co-incidence, followed a similar career path to this author. In 1993 she took a week off work to officiate at the European Athletics Championships for the Blind. She promised she’d be back!
Chris Geraghty is the youngest member of our group, a DIT student. Although he cannot remember he was also at the 1993 C’ships where Pres. Mary Robinson held him!
Joe Geraghty is known to write on this site!
Pat Kelly is probably the reason we’re here. He was the first Irish person to attend athletics competition for blind and was also among our first Paralympians.
Tony Lyster is football mad and was our 2nd Chairman. Also PRO for our Euros in 1993 and has been part of us for 25 years.
Wally Roode is a champion golfer with a wry but lovely sense of humour.
Gerard Watchorn is a key member of Feach – the group who support visually impaired children – and is also into tandem cycling.
MayFest is built on old but good values. The only riches to be made next weekend will go to all who attend, enjoy, and participate.
To be there will be the greatest
Thursday 15th May 2014
Good day, sunshine!
Here comes the sun, little darling, here comes the sun, it’s alright!
All you need is sun, sun. Sun is you need!
We want no anticipation of precipitation for MayFest 2014 which comes your way in just 8 days.
Oh, yeh you need 8 days a week as it’s another hard day’s night!
Help!
As for any more Beatles references: Let it be!
Last night was hectic in the MayFest office. By midnight we put the programme to bed and Sarah hooshed it to the printers. Today Chris and Sarah did the ring around of officials and sports organisers. No problem except that great rowing man Joe Cunningham sent me an email to confirm June 24. I was quick on the button and told Joe June 24th was not a good day for a MayFest! Of course, Joe’s was a typo.
Lawn Bowls nearly came unstuck as the green is booked out on Saturday week for a big cup match. Our man Martin Ryan picked up the phone and all is sorted. We’re the warm up act!
This evening a unanimous decision was made on who will be inducted into the VSI Hall of Fame. I’m under oath but I can tell ya there will be a standing ovation on the day!
Our national Press Release goes out this weekend – our regional release issued 10 days ago – and you can read it here.
Yesterday, all our entries seemed so far away, now it looks as if they’re here to stay. Oh, I believe in MayFest!
So, take the long and winding road that leads you to MayFest. Get your ticket to ride – download entry form on this site here – and be a weekend day tripper!
Our editor has just been on to say “get back, get back, get back to where you once belong. Get back JoeBlogs!”
Monday 12th May 2014
So Sarah says: "i'm out of the office Monday," so I says to meself "let's slip into the office and nick the MayFest timetable when nobody's around." Well, it is supposed to be kept under wraps until Thursday week, 22nd May. Ah, let's blow the lid...
Watergate? Worse still it was almost Waterloo as someone saw me scale the ladder. The snake!
In the end Snoop joeblogs found the timetable and you can view it here.
23-May 1900 2300 Meet and Greet National Leaugue of the Blind of Ireland
24-May 900 1500 General registration ALSAA Level 1
24-May 930 1030 Tandem Tour /TT Registration Boot Inn Car Park
24-May 1000 1300 Lawn Bowls ALSAA Bowling Green
24-May 1000 1045 Fllicker Scooters ALSAA Sports Hall - Zone A
24-May 1030 1300 Tandem Tour /TT Boot Inn Loop
24-May 1030 1500 Archery ALSAA Sports Hall - Zone C
24-May 1030 1700 SNAG Golf ALSAA Sports Hall - Zone B
24-May 1030 1400 Indoor rowing ALSAA Sports Hall - Zone B
24-May 1100 1300 Judo ALSAA Sports Hall - Zone A
24-May 1130 1230 Flicker Scooters ALSAA Track
24-May 1230 1400 Tandems ALSAA Track
24-May 1300 1430 Lunch
24-May 1300 1500 Futsal - 5 A Side Football ALSAA Sports Hall - Zone A
24-May 1400 1600 MayFest Magic Mile Challenge ALSAA Swim Pool
24-May 1400 1700 Track and Field ALSAA Track
24-May 1430 1600 Spinning ALSAA Sports Hall - Zone B
24-May 1500 1700 Adaptive tennis ALSAA Sports Hall - Zone A
24-May 1500 1700 B1 Football Training Ballymun United
24-May 1500 1700 Tenpin bowling ALSAA Bowing Alley
24-May 1630 1730 Egg & Spoon, 3 Legged Race, Tug of War ALSAA field
24-May 1730 1800 Main prize presentation ALSAA Level 2 Function Room
24-May 1800 2100 Barbeque ALSAA Level 2 Function Room
24-May 1930 2030 Kelly Family ALSAA Level 2 Function Room
25-May 1300 1500 Futsal ALSAA Sports Hall
25-May 1400 1600 Beachside Walk Malahide-Portmarnock-Malahide
Sunday 11th May 2014
I never did a training course on training and management. Indeed, as is obvious from hese blogs I never did a course in journalism either!
Yet, when vision sports is in your blood you get to meet people and sub-consciously identify who is on the same path. At last year's MayFest I met several people who so got it!
I invited a few to join this year's org-com and they have been absolutely terrific.
While the following quote from an email singles me out a little I take this for the team! The author is herself a bit of a genius with an absolutely brilliant life history but, we'll come back to that on another day.
Take it away Ann Cusack:
"As the saying goes Joe, ' you are some man for one man '. Must seriously congratulate
you, your team, and committee for the Trojan work you have all put in to date. Ye are
all so organised, and with so much involved and with so many facets..I find it quite incredible.
I am so honoured and delighted to be a part of May Fest. I have been on committees
most of my life, but never one as efficient as this, and I am learning so much.o
Congrats again to one and all, and looking forward to meeting everybody at the May Fest
putting our shoulders to the wheel....when it should be a resounding success...enjoyed by all."
Now Ann Cusack has raised the bar. We must move up a gear and prove our credibility.
Wednesday 7th May 2014
We’re into a very busy May now.
Yesterday the politicians were frantically finalizing their entry forms before the deadline came and passed for nominations for the forthcoming elections. Meanwhile, we were all out finalizing our own entry forms for MayFest.
Well, unlike the politicians, the good news for us MayFesters is that our closing date has been extended so you have still time to elect yourself onto the MayFest weekend. Make sure to download your form from this site and get cracking. Entry is still FREE to all sporting activities.
Also, if you just coming along for the crack, or to assist as a volunteer, and you plan to join in the barbeque you are best advised to pre-book your tickets. Barbeque tickets cost 10 Euros for members and 15 for non-members while children’s go for half price.
Register for the bbq and all other events using our official Entry Form.
So, whatever about the last weekend in May hosting local, bye and Euro elections; whatever about the Heineken Cup; whatever about the Champions League Fina; whatever about One Direction, just secure your place now for MayFest from 23-25th May.
We’ll have more crack than the rest of them put together!
ps. Just got text from Pa Kelly from our Org-Com: he's found us a megaphone! So, now we''ll be heard and seen at MayFest! The other bit of good news there is that I can now take that awful megaphone image off our feature gallery page!
Friday 2nd May 2014
MayFest is the the modern day sequel to what was called the May Games. On this day 33 years ago the May Games began. The May Games formed much of the foundations for what we have at Vision Sports Ireland today.
As the excitement builds towards another MayFest let's take time and follow the magic and enthusiasm of May Games 1981.
The following is an article I wrote for the very last May Games programme in 2010...
Saturday, 2nd May 1981, the day the May Games began,
Tom McCormack, official starter, pointed his gun skywards.
“On yer marks ... get set ...”. Bang!
Even the sun took its hat off for the Saturday afternoon athletics at the brand new track at the Billy Morton Stadium in Santry, Dublin. It had rained most of the morning for the earlier part of those first historic Games.
My first stop was at Dublin’s Irish Life Centre for the Irish Swimming Gala for Visually Impaired. Combined with its sister Irish Athletics Championships, this was our first Games. The National League of the Blind of Ireland (NLBI) provided the funding while its Sports and Social Club provided the organisation.
As I entered the swimming pool area I was greeted with a crescendo of screaming teenage schoolgirls. They were excited by the outstanding performances of their friends who were breaking records to beat the band. Among the top swimmers that day were Geraldine Quinn, Imelda Egan, Mary Fahy and Elaine O’Neill. The boys were making a bit of a splash too including Terry Cartin and Jimmy Grant.
With a pounding head from the shrieks and whoopees I joined my colleagues on our hired coach. Destination: Santry.
We arrived a little behind time to find every top athletics official in Ireland, led by Brendan Foreman. Brendan’s Who’s Who included Al Guy, Eddie Hogan, Eddie Spillane, Dermot Nagle and many more. The then Irish athletics governing body, BLE, had rolled out the red carpet for their contribution to the 1981 International Year of the Disabled
The echo of the starter’s gun for the Men’s B2/B3 800M race had a massive impact on Lancaster’s Norman Theobald. Norman must have thought he got a bullet in the backside as he went off like the clappers. The rest of us chatted our way over the first few hundred meters. Among the chatterers were Tony Scanlon, Martin and Pat Kelly, Barney Flannery, Philip Dunne and several more including myself. As we ran out of chat Norman Theobald ran out of oxygen and I strode away for an Irish Record. I did alright that day as I also won the 1500M.
I recall Des Kenny, cigarette in one hand, microphone in the other, picking me off the line for an interview. Des was freelancing for RTE Radio’s Listen & See. Nowadays he is CEO of NCBI.
Our first May Games athletics was remarkable for some absolutely amazing big finds. A 16 year old Cabinteely girl, Carol Carr impressed everyone with incredibly fast wins at 100M, 200M and 400M. Another teenager, Liz Harold from Bray, astounded many with her tremendous shot putts. One time Vision Sports Ireland Chairperson Fintan O’Donnell, also then a teenager, was the jumps champion that day. Vet Michael Meaney and friend John St. George medalled in the B1 Shot put and javelin. Alan Whetherly from London, with partial sight, and Willie McLeod from Edinburgh, totally blind, dominated the sprint events.
The real champions that day were the volunteers from the Sports and Social Club (NLBI) led by Rita Rodgers with her team including Anne Claffey, Barney Brown, Gerry Campbell, Pat Kelly and many more.
Minister for Sport Jim Tunney TD called in. Larry Carroll from the National League introduced us to him. We soon squeezed two handsome grants out of the Minister. One grant was for the Games and one grant was for the Irish team who would later be victorious at the European Games in Germany.
The First Citizen of Dublin, Fergus O’Brien, spoke at the post Games meal at the old Hollybank Hotel on Dublin’s Howth Road. The rest of us took to the disco floor thinking we were Shakin’ Stevens.
It was a day, a night, to be forever treasured. And yet it feels like only yesterday.
Thursday 1st May 2014
“You (the Kelly Family) should be on X-Factor, you’d win it!” Just one reaction to the Kellys after dinner performance at last year’s MayFest from our good friend Tanya Scully.
Tanya’s right, you know. Yes, Ireland’s got talent, alright. Strictly come listen to the Kelly Family as they grace yet another MayFest later this month.
Now, here’s another reaction to the Kelly Family “We decided to book tickets and travel over to the (MayFest 2013) dinner when we read that the Kelly Family would be performing. Beautiful singers and an inspiration to us all.”
Gerard and Maria Watchorn got in touch recently with their good friends and Kelly family parents Frank and Yvonne and invite them to perform at MayFest 2014. The plan is that the 6 member family will perform their unique blend of retro and modern popular song at 7.30 pm at our MayFest barbeque at ALSAA on Saturday 24th May.
Never mind the Voice of Ireland it’s the Voices of the Kelly Family which will know you out at MayFest 2014!
Book you place at MayFest now an download Entry Form here
Monday 28th April 2014
It was lovely to meet you all at the VSI AGM. We’ll meet again, we know where; we know when … yes, we’ll all be catching up at MayFest from 23-25 May.
At the AGM our Chair Robert provided some very interesting stats on this site. We’ll publish these later in the week but just to say this blog is currently the 2nd most popular hit on the site. It is second only to equestrian man extraordinaire Doug Stevenson. Doug has 2450 hits compared to our own 2334. We’ll pass out Doug later this week to go to No. 1 but then blogs attract more repetitive hits compared to the unique hits on Doug’s page.
Also, the MayFest Entry Form download page lies in 6th place overall. Oh, don’t forget, the closing date for entries is this Friday.
On the bad news side today a top TV programme which promised to attend MayFest Saturday has pulled out. Sure, at least we know in time.
On this day 30 years ago we held a celebrity tandem cycle form Dublin to Dundalk to raise funds for our Paralympic team. It generated a lot of media interest – and some funds too! 30 years on tandem cycling is more popular than ever. At MayFest you can come and try on these novel cycles which are so popular with blind and partially sighted people. If you feel more energetic you can always join our 20 mile time trial on the Boot Inn Loop, beside the airport.
Tomorrow night our Org-Com go into conference call mode for one of the last times pre-MayFest. Big decisions to be made on accommodation and final timetable.
I’ll bring the news here first.
Thursday 24th April 2014
Anyone got a megaphone to bring to our AGM this Saturday?
No I don’t want to shout down the Minister – well he won’t be there anyway – or Robert, our Chair. I need a megaphone for MayFest.
Goes like this: blind and low vision sprinters quite often use a calling system for racing. So, the caller positions themselves in or around the finish line while the sprinter positions on a centre start late, say lane 5. The starter’s gun blasts for a race and the sprinter races down lane 5. The caller uses a megaphone and calls “5-5-5-5-5 …’. Where the sprinter strays the caller can be heard shouting “4-4-4-4.” Etc. or “6-6-6” and so on.
When the caller screams “5-5-5-4-3-2-1” you know the visually impaired runner is in trouble!
It takes great courage – and lots of practice – for the blind or partially sighted runner to sprint to this calling system. Accidents are known to happen but, thankfully, they are rare. Irish sprinter Pat Kelly has run just under 12 seconds using this system. Pat, a member of our organising committee, will be participating in the 20 miles tandem time trial on the Boot Inn loop beside Dublin Airport at this year’s MayFest. And that will be just his morning session! In the afternoon you will probably find Pat at the indoor rowing as well as the track and field events.
If you would like to find out more about MayFest just call in and meet us at the Vision Sports Ireland AGM this Saturday – 26th April – at Dublin’s Temple Bar Hotel in Fleet St, Dublin 1. It promises to be a celebratory affair so a bit of fun all round.
It is absolutely not mandatory to bring a megaphone with you!
Sunday 20th April 2014
On behalf of all at Vision Sports Ireland I wish you a very Happy Easter.
Did you see our MayFest t-shirt on Winning Streak last night? Tony Ward and his guide Nanda wore the t-shirts during their run and during the interview. Also, Marty gave MayFest a great plug as he told viewers where to go – this site – to download the MayFest entry form.
All in all a great week as our golfers – who will play SNAG Golf at MayFest - made it on to TV3 News. They then went on to beat Scotland at the Celtic Cup in Cork. CampAbilities in Killarney seemed great fun for the young and young at heart. Looking forward to meeting you all again at MayFest.
Hopefully, the rising tide of awareness of vision sports will float all boats, many towards MayFest in less than 5 weeks’ time.
Happy Easter.
Friday 18th April 2014
How would ya feel about sleeping in the moonlight – or lashings of rain – on Howth Head? Or, sleeping in a tent in Portrane? Maybe, you could upgrade to a caravan in Bettystown? Well, if you don’t shift your ass and book accommodation with us for MayFest your choice may be limited to the great outdoors.
As One Direction are in town the only beds to be found in Dublin will be in Bargaintown and that’s a furniture store!
So, just a reminder, these are your two choices:
1. Boyne Valley Hotel, 20 minutes from event venue at ALSAA.
2. Self-catering, 20 minutes from event venue at ALSAA.
Boyne Valley Hotel http://www.boyne-valley-hotel.ie/
On a first come, first served basis, we have obtained a special offer of 65 Euros per room per night to include breakfast (subject to a minimum number of bookings).
Self-catering
ChildVision, a close partner of Vision Sports Ireland, hope to have self-catering houses available on MayFest weekend. It should work out at roughly 25 Euros per head per night (breakfast not included).
Now if you must book your accommodation with us within the next 7-10 days as our hold on this accommodation is about to run out.
Oh for a nice warm pre-heated bed for the night. It beat’s wind and rain on Howth Head!
Wednesday 16th April 2014
We’re having a purple patch this week with not one, but two, prime time TV features.
Well, next Saturday’s may be more a pink patch than a purple one as our tickle me pink MayFest 2014 t-shirts will feature on RTE’s Winning Streak. More details here or else scroll down this page to my blog from 29th March.
Earlier this week Irish Blind Golf – who will be central to MayFest as they support SNAG Golf – featured on last Monday’s 5.30 TV3 News. Putt it here for your direct link to news clip
Since our re-launch last September we have featured on Nationwide with Andrew FitzGerald (arranged through VSI) while our member Marianna Watchorn – sure to be at MayFest again this year – featured in RTE2’s In Your Shoes. Of course our launch attracted widespread media interest too.
Not long before that last year’s MayFest attracted 0 journalists on the day and absolutely no national coverage. That is despite us issuing 4 separate Press Releases and 1 press invite to over 400 media outlets at a time. In fairness, we did get excellent regional coverage and did quite well on social networks too.
Our first regional Press Release will issue at the end of the month and this will be followed by a continuing media campaign. We already have a commitment from a major media outlet that they will be at MayFest on the day! Now, this will be really big!
So, now to my occasional foray into the archive and how our original May Games – the pre-decease of MayFest – got on with media. The early Games were covered extensively by RTE radio sports with LIVE feeds into their bulletins while RTE TV sports also filmed and reported. RTE radio’s Listen and See – the programme for and about blind people – often sent out a Sports Department reporter to cover for them.
All publicity was sports related and positive.
Then I got a call from a young TV reporter who would ultimately win top international awards. We spoke to each other several times and she promised she would someday cover blind sports. True to her word she did. She agreed to come to our May Games. I wrote up a media plan suggesting where she could go.
Our soon to be star journalist arrived at our May Games and quickly tore up my plan! Silly of me anyway to think she would follow my lead. No, instead of filming a World Record been broken she was off checking out how blind people have babies. Instead of filming 10 athletes break the 4.30 metric mile she was off checking out a guy who had fallen in a sprint. Instead of interviewing world Paralympic champs she wanted to find out how guide dogs were trained.
Now, the star journalist was there to interview blind people about blindness based on the public’s low base of knowledge of disability at the time.
Times have changed dramatically since the public and media knowledge of disability is now fully informed and positive.
So, that’s why we can look forward to more positive coverage of MayFest and Vision Sports Ireland. All has changed, changed utterly.
Saturday 12th April 2014
“We need 3 volunteers: you, you and you”!
Well, that’s how they recruited us to do jobs back in my old school. Mayfest is different. We need volunteers, we need you!
One of the jobs our MayFest Org Com recently tasked me with was to identify where volunteers would be required. So, I took out my laptop – old friend Pat Kelly calls me the “typewriter man” - and then opened the project plan. Another colleague refers to my driving of our project plan as “Joseph and his amazing technicolour spreadsheet”!
Last year our feedback survey rated volunteers the best part of MayFest.
So, why not join in the fun. Here’s how you can help:
On Friday 23rd May we could do with a little help at the National League of the Blind. While final programme for this Meet and Greet has not been confirmed we are pencilling in lawn bowls, video games and a fun short quiz. We welcome help in all areas.
On Saturday 24th we need 4 stewards to help with the tandem cycle tour and time trial which starts at the Boot Inn in Cloghran. We would also welcome help back in ALSAA in all areas as more than an a dozen events will take place there. It doesn’t matter if you have no experience in the sports involved – probability is most of the participants won’t have been there before either!
On Sunday 25th we host Futsal at ALSAA and a beachside walk between Portmarnock and Malahide. We’d love if a few could join us to help guide walkers while we’re sure the footballers would welcome help too.
I’m volunteering to stop blogging now but if you need more information and would like to contact us checkout here
Thursday 10th April 2014
It may have been an Olympic sport – 1900 to 1920 – but never made it to Paralympics. But, if we know the ropes, tug hard, with one big heave we could get it across the line!
Yes, it the MayFest tug of war!
Yes, in a week where royalty reigns supreme MayFest re-introduces an old royal favourite: the legendary tug of war.
Our tug of War will be the last sporting event of the Day on MayFest Saturday: 24th May. We hope everybody will be roped in for the grand finale. Based on the gathering at pit side we’ll break into contests for children as well as separate competitions for men and women. You don’t have to know the ropes, full sight or no sight will make no difference so absolutely everyone in ALSAA on the hour can heave and ho and heave again.
Pull! Pull! Pull!
Give me strength!
Sunday 6th April 2014
MayFest is all about family participation.
Last year the Kelly Family came out en-masse. They took to the bowling, yoga and much more. An hour later I sneaked in to their rehearsals. They were the after dinner performers and were mesmarising
In the background were several other families, not least my own. My daughter Ellie was your hostess as you headed for the dinner table. My wife Grainne provided the very popular Braille programme while my son Chris, this year’s event co-ordinator, looked after the SNAG golf and the tandem time-keeping. Oh yes those tandems….
We were about to wrap up last year when a beautiful 10 years old girl from Wicklow thought she had missed out on tandems cos she went swimming. Her dad approached me and asked was she too late? I looked to tandem guru Gerard Watchorn – very tired at this stage – and he said c’mon, let’s go.
Minutes later the 10 years old and her sister were on the back of two tandems, hers piloted by her dad and Gerard piloting her sister’s. Off they went and within a few minutes the race was on! Naturally, it ended up a dead heat!
Yes, MayFest is definitely a family day.
Saturday 5th April 2014
Different strokes for different blokes as they joined the swimmin’ women at the Swim Ireland Swim4aMile challenge yesterday.
There was no whistle blower to send Minister Varadkar on his way. No, at 1708 yesterday evening there was a quick 3-2-1 countdown and 40 swimmers set out for a milestone. Within a minute there were 150 in the 50m National Aquatics Centre pool.
Leo Varadkar TD, Minister for Transport Tourism and Sport – who launched Vision Sports Ireland just over 6 months ago – looks very fit. 42 minutes later he was out and heading for that shower – no, not his Govt. colleagues!
Meanwhile, while I admire Minister Varadkar, I wasn’t there to see him - nor him, me – I was there to see my first born Claire strive for her latest of many life achievements. Claire is a final year law student at DCU and only took to the water 8 weeks ago. From swimming just 20 to 40 metres a day yesterday she made it 1609 metre – the full mile!
As I soaked up the atmosphere yesterday – yes I got drenched, sun drenched – the lure of the pool was too much for me. Why wasn’t I there? I had trained for it and sent my reg in 4 weeks before closing date. But, I was too late. It was booked out.
No worries though. Sure I can put off to tomorrow what I wanted to do yesterday. Yes, the next big Mile Challenge will be at MayFest on 24th May from 2-4pm. If you think the mile is too much tries the half or quarter mile swims instead. Sure, at MayFest anything goes.
Congratulations to the thousands of people throughout the country this week who joined Matt Cooper (TodayFM), Melanie Nocher (Irish Olympic swimmer) and Minister Varadkar at the Coca Cola Thank You Fund Swim Ireland Swim4aMile Challenge.
I encourage swim clubs and pool managers to follow on – just as we’re doing at the Vision Sports Ireland MayFest - and develop further challenges.
Off I go now to splash out on a pair of flippers for MayFest Swim a Mile.
Thursday 3rd April 2014
With all of these phone tappings, recordings and bugs out there right now, whatever happened to the old fashioned fly on the wall? Could the fly have just buzzed off?
Whatever about the fly on the wall why not put our flyer on your wall? Yes, our MayFest flyer is free to download and will go nicely on your wall, whether your bedroom wall or your Facebook wall! Click here to download.
It’s an a5 two page (or both sides printed) little creation and it will hit you at first sight so, prepare to duck!
Already, 300 print versions have flown into ChildVision in Drumcondra. Feach will circulate this online following request from Gerard Watchorn on our Org-Com. Meanwhile, Ann Cusack – from our Org-Com - is currently posting pdfs to the south east. They will be in circulation in Camp Abilities and at Irish Blind Golf’s Celtic Cup from Monday week. They’re simply flying of the printer and computers across the country right now!
From this weekend until mid-May I’ll be taking you through the a-z of MayFest activities. We’ll also have a separate item on this site with all the a-z details as the list grows.
Gotta fly!
Tuesday 1st April 2014
As April Fools Day is over I can confirm - but, I'm sure you guessed - today's entry is offically true bluff (as opposed the my usuayl bluff). MayFest is not moving to Corker. Furthermore, we will not be showing on pay per view TV. We'll gladly accept coverage from all media!
Today, I can exclusively reveal that MayFest 2014 has moved venue and will now take place at Croke Park.
GAA spokesperson P Fada tells us “as a fellow NGB we empathised with your big MayFest clashing with our One Direction concert. We felt we should help so we had a chat with the x-factor losers
“Their spokesperson Neil Horan – a father figure who is famous for his Athens’ Olympics heroics - suggested that he would look after security on the day. He also thought it would be a brilliant idea to pitch 3 see- through tents in mid pitch to replace the old fashioned segmented sports hall.”
P Fada from the GAA also thought that while it may be a long shot we may have 80,000 attendees at MayFest 2014
The GAA have also agreed to re-install their 400m track, last seen in Croker 8 decades ago.
One problem which MayFest organisers are currently addressing is where to locate the MayFest BBQ Neill Horan has offered us a mass amount of tickets for the Some Direction Concert that evening. However, it is understood that some attendees are heading off to the Wolfe Tones concert on the other side of town.
We’re on the one road, maybe the wrong road but we have One Direction.
Sunday 30th March 2014
If a picture paints a thousand words ....
Saturday 29th March 2014
You don’t have to get 3 stars on your scratch card to be a big winner on RTE’s Winning Streak. But, how do you avoid Marty’s awful jokes and still get on the show? Well, the first secret it you must have 5 stars! You must be a 5 star organisation like Vision Sports Ireland and have a 5 star event to promote such as MayFest!
Yes, Vision Sports Ireland and MayFest have won the lotto! All going well we will be the featured National Lottery beneficiary organisation on Winning Streak in a just few weeks’ time.
Last Tuesday I dropped down to the Phoenix Park during my lunch to check out the Winning Streak recording. As I arrived at the Furze Road Denis Toomey – our MayFest tandem time trial race director - and his stoker Martin Gordon were taking hairpin bends and not ending up in dire straits!
Each time there was a break the RTE crew moved the camera to different positions on the tandem. Intriguing.
Robert Dobbyn, the Vision Sports Ireland Chairperson, was on hand to do an excellent face-to-face interview about VSI and MayFest.
Then it was back to Denis and Martin for their on camera piece.
“Will ya wear our new MayFest t-shirt, Denis”, says I. “No bother,” says Denis “sure they’re the 2014 colour of cycling with the Giro and Ras”. While the RTE crew was anxious to promote MayFest they were not keen on a change of colour for the cyclists so we compromised and displayed the MayFest t-shirt in the background. Again, Denis and Martin were naturals in front of camera.
My lunch break was over and the RTE crew needed their break. So, we all parted.
Later in the afternoon Tony Ward, and his guide runner Nanda Griffioen, faced the cameras. Both turned up in our spectacular VSI/MayFest t-shirt and, by all accounts, gave excellent feed to the RTE crew in talk and action.
Finally, fair play to Sarah in our office, for the lucky break. Sarah was checking out email to an old Irish Blind Sports account when she spotted the RTE request for eligible organisations who wished to go on Winning Streak? Sarah went for it and grasped the chance with both hands.
So now it all goes onto the cutting table. A day’s work will be condensed into 150 seconds.
Just to say thank you to the RTE crew for their professional approach. They seemed to get it.
Once we get word of the broadcast date – probably late April – you’ll be the next to know
Wednesday 26th March 2014
Did we have the balls to introduce adaptive tennis to MayFest? Well, no!
Will we have the balls ever to do it? Yes, at MayFest 2014!
You see Caroline from our Organising Committee will order the special sound effect balls tomorrow, in conjunction with Sarah from our office. My job is to talk to ALSAA about provision of indoor nets.
So adaptive tennis is coming to Mayfest. It should be great fun when players get excited and rant like John McEnroe at Wimbledon: “You cannot be serious, the ball was on the line. Chalk flew up, it was clearly in, you are the pits of the world.’
Of course, MayFest tennis will be game, set and match to total fun!
This year we’ve thrown a lot of balls in the air and many have landed. We introduce a second brand new sport to the Republic of Ireland: lawn bowls. We featured our trip to Belfast in this blog 11 days ago but, just to say, this is an ideal weekend sport which most of us – fit or fat, old or young, sight or no sight – can have fun at.
Also new to MayFest 2014 is flicker scootering. Some of you have tried it, many may not, but it promises is good crack on the track.
Spinning will make it’s demo debut at MayFest following its introduction by Lara and Sarah at Trinners this spring.
Judo’s in too having nearly made it last year. Our thanks to Rahim for all his work.
The Tug of War was first intorduced to our 1989 Festival of Sport (now maybe that’s where MayFest has its origins?)
So, just goes to show you MayFest is more than a load of balls after all!
To watch a video on adaptive tennis click here.
Also, don't forget to download your MayFest Entry Form here.
Saturday 22nd March 2014
Last night I was caught with my pants down! Worse still, I didn’t have a tie!
You see I accepted Warren McDonald’s and Oisin Jordan’s invite to the FAI/IBSA Blind Football reception at the Skylon Hotel on the M1.An accompanying note said the B1 footballers would love to meet VSI Board members so I took the bait as I wanted to meet the boys who tweet with me most days.
When I arrived at the prescribed time there were meetings, official signings and all of that so Sarah, our Executive Officer, and myself adjourned to the bar for a chat.
Half an hour later we checked the reception out again to find there was an official general meeting going on.
I have to be honest and tell ya I rarely do official things. Even in my day job, when I worked with Govt people, I slapped a recorder on the front table and headed for my ipad well away from the madding crowd. I’m the guy who is out in the church yard for weddings, confos and all of that.
Two hours after arriving at the Skylon my break came and it all happened in 15 mins. I got to meet my fellow tweeters Donagha, Kevin and Robert, thanks to Tony Lyster. Great ambassadors for B1 football who hope to make it to Prague in the Autumn.
Neil O’Donovan, a former member of this parish, now heads up IBSA Europe - the International Blind Sports Association - introduced me to his football sidekick David Stirton. We chatted about the week when we hosted IBSA then premier event: the Euor athletics C’ship in Dublin in ’93.
Neil was highly complementary about this website. He made the point – one I have heard quite a lot recently – that it’s the site you visit and revisit frequently as there’s always something new here. Thanks Neil. Go now and add us to your favourites!
Liam Harbison from Paralympics Ireland is one of Ireland’s top sports administrators. He called over for a chat too In a multi-sports setup with complex NGBs and even futher complex disability interpretation Liam has a busy day and night job.
So, where’s MayFest in this blog? D’ya think I was at the Skylon to discuss football masks. Not a chance. Aside from meeting those great people mentioned above I was on a MayFest mission.
“I’m looking for Oisin”, I says to top coach Nick Harrison from the FAI. “I’ll find him” says Nick. Seconds later Oisin Jordan, FAI’s top man at Football for All is by my side.
We discuss disability inclusion at MayFest and then we chat about who could be our very, very very special MayFest guest cos, at da end of da day guess who’s back in town on 24th May? Martin, Roy and the full Republic of Ireland team. Oisin cautioned me about the pre-match rules but sure I never understood rules anyway! By the way there is a plan B: Mario Rosenstock!
We were well into Fergie time so I had to leave and miss the late dinner. Just to say thank you so much to Warren, Oisin, the Fai and Blind Football for their hospitality. Looking forward to MayFest Blind Football.
Thursday, 20th March, 2014
I might be colour blind but I can see electric pink! Incredibly this is the colour of our MayFest 2014 official t-shirt! I’m telling you, theses will blind you – maybe, that's a bit late for some of us!
I think I made a mistake: I showed blind faith in Sarah and Chris. Now, look what they want us to wear!
Ah, I’m a bit harsh. In fairness I wouldn’t have a clue while those who know their fashion tell me these t-shirts are outstanding. So, well done, Sarah and Chris.
I hear there could be a secret photo-shoot next week and then all will be revealed. Can’t wait.
Las I saw of Chris he was designing a flyer for distribution by ChildVision. With all of this artistry he’lll probably get a job re-painting the Cistine Chapel!
Finally, for tonight, we’ve had to amend our Entry Form within 3 days of publishing. You see Swim Ireland are organising a Swim4aMile Challenge in about 10 days time. Anyway, the event is oversubscribed and several of our members – including yours truly – are quite disappointed as we wait in a queue.
So legendary swim coach Frank Cullinane suggested we bring the mile challenge to MayFest. Frank was chatting with Sarah on Tuesday and I called him back today to discuss. I’ve now updated the Entry Form, Invite and the What’s On guide. Checkout the events section on right hand side of home page.
So, it maybe that Sarah, myself and maybe even Colm will give this a go! Just hope our organising team don’t mind us skipping off for a while!
St. Patrick's Day Special
Ssssssshhhhh .....listen, d'ya wanna know a secret? D'ya promise not to tell? Ok then. Later this morning the MayFest Entry Form will be launched on this site. If you want a sneak preview - and download it and the associated What's On Guide click here
Now, you go and enjoy the Parades. I'm off to the dog house cos that's where they'll send me when they find out that I've sneaked out the Entry Form!
Sunday 16th March 2014
It wasn’t a Purple Haze, it was a Red Hayes!
You see last Friday (14th) Colm, our Sports Development Chair, Tom, an international u25 bowler, and myself were in search of a guy called Pat Hayes at Belfast Central railroad station.
Along comes Martin from Blackrock Lawn Bowling Club. “Yeh, I saw a guy with a red peaked cap a proclaiming ‘Hayes’ but he’s disappeared’. Panic! Pat Hayes had come and gone!
10 minutes later the fog lifted and the real Pat Hayes emerged.
Half an hour later we were at a very impressive Northern Ireland Bowling Rink in South Belfast. We were here to find out if we could launch lawn bowling down south. If so, the launch would be at Vision Sports Ireland’s MayFest from 23rd to 25th May next.
Pat and his wonderful wife sat us down ant said the first rule of bowling is to have a bowl or two of good hot nourishment. He provided us with a 3 course meal!
Jan, a 17 times World Blind Golf Champion charmed us with some great stories. Tipp's own Joe (Burke) recalled days of yore at the old May Games. Meanwhile Lisa, and her guide canine companion, relaxed. Both Joe and Lisa recalled going on ski-ing trips and water ski-ing jaunts, organised by Vision Sports Ireland (then Irish Blind Sports).
Lisa was first to bowl. She has no eyesight and follows a vocal calling formula. She also relies on an end to end string to help her align.
Right foot forward for Pat to guide Joe's right hand bowl
Joe was next to demo. Joe has RP, a degenerative eye disease which has affected him since birth. Joe has difficulty in dark areas so he relied on Pat to wear white runners and stand about 5 metres ahead of him to guide his bowl.
Later on I had a go myself. They told me to aim for the jack. I misheard and aimed for the jacks! Well, I might as well have gone elsewhere as my bowls were atrocious! What’s that they said about beginner’s (bad) luck?
Overall, we were impressed. Martin, our main man from Blackrock Lawn Bowling Club in south county Dublin, felt the adaptations were flexible and he had no major concerns. Both Martin and Tom had a go too and found the rink, as they expected, quite fast.
Colm ducked and dived but was clever enough to know that we would place all his rolls into the gulley on YouTube before he finished his round!
So, where do we go from here? From informal chatting on the Enterprise train home it is now certain lawn bowling can be included in MayFest and then progress from there.
So, that’s it, the 16th and final sports activity has just been added to the MayFest Entry Form. The Entry Form will officially launch on this site tomorrow – St. Patrick’s Day – at 12 noon.
Wednesday 12th March 2014
So, Red Hugh eloped with Lord Henry’s sister and headed for ChildVision in Drumcondra to marry her. He asked the Archbishop of Dublin to perform the marriage ceremony. His Grace refused so Red Hugh kidnapped him. One can only assume the Bishop was left with two choices: lose his head or ensure that Red Huh O’Neill was wed! The Archbishop chose the latter and so the celebrations began!
James Forbes, Head of Care at ChildVision, told us this 425 years old story today. We were standing in the castle where the wedding celebrations took place.
So, what’s this all go to do with MayFest? Well, today Robert Dobbyn, Chairperson of Vision Sports Ireland, Chris Geraghty, MayFest coordinator and I spent some time in the same castle. We met in the ChildVision Boardroom which is located upstairs in the heart of this 454 years old castle and there certainly was no kidnappings going on.
Mary Leonard, Deputy CEO at ChildVision chaired our meeting.
ChildVision are very keen to support MayFest. Vinny was delighted to hear of the strong have a go element while Anne Marie was keen to find out about adaptive tennis. All had a keen interest in athletics and judo, two sports heavily promoted in ChildVision.
We discussed many more positives than MayFest but, as this is a MayFest blog, we’ll stick with that one for now.
ChildVision have offered to help us resolve any accommodation issues we may have due to One Direction being in town on MayFest weekend. They also offered to promote MayFest through their own communications channels. They gave us some very useful tips too.
If you’re a past pupil of ChildVision – known as St. Joseph’s School for Blind Boys up to 2011 – you may be interested in knowing that the buildings and infrastructure there are still in place. Indeed, the old Ref and the castle, of course, have preservation orders stuck on them. The Carmelite brothers, who ran the school and workshops up to the early ’60s, are gone. The Rosminian priests and brothers more recently vacated after 5 decades at the helm.
So there’s your history, geography and MayFest lessons for today. Tomorrow I’m off to Mount Sackville on more MayFest stuff. Robert Dobbyn tells me Queen Victoria visited this school twice in the late 1800s.
Sorry Queen Vic – or even Red Hugh - too early to tell ya about MayFest!
Monday 10th March 2014
Joebloggs is on tour this week.
I started out at 5.30 am last Saturday and got stuck into MarchFest in Killarney
.Cork Archery Club, Fiona and Jack from West Cork aim us in the right direction
Fiona Larkin is so enthusiastic and engaging on archery. Her Cork City Archery Club were out in big numbers.
Michael O’Keefe has so many good things to say about this blog and our site in general. Modesty prevails here but he knothe ws more about social media than most so compliments accepted
Lisa from the NCBI was resplendent, and very enthusiastic and an expert on CampAbilities.
Oh yes, Niamb and Fiona from CampAbilites dropped in and we had a great chat.
Next Wednesday I head to ChildVision with our Chairperson Robert Dobbyn and Chris from the MayFest Org-Com. It’s my alma meter and I left there 40 years ago! Should be fun.
On Thursday I head to Mount Anville Prive School in Goatstown to see if we have an AprilFest.
Then next Friday morning I head to Belfast with fellow Board member Colm Larkin for some good chat around athletics and lawn bowling and much more, I’m sure.
Finally to the weekend wag who asked how much I pay Vision Sports Ireland to be published here.The answer, it's in the blood. It may tell but the last time I was paid to write was 40 years ago when I got great money to write in New Spotlight, the then bible of Irish showbiz. The guy writing next to me was Geldof so tell me why I don't like Mondays!
Friday 7th March 2014
Today JoeBloggs can EXCLUSIVELY reveal extracts from the MayFest 2014 "What's on where and when guide"
However, I must point out that a spokesperson for Vision Sports Ireland denies such a Guide exists! The VSI spokesperson went on to say that if JoeBloggs publishes sensitive material the spokesperson will see JoeBloggs in court! Maybe so, we look forward to meeting you in court - the MayFest adaptive tennis court!
Oh, before we go to those EXCLUSIVE revelations: I look forward to meting as many of you as possible at tomorrow's MarchFest in Killarney tomorrow morning from 11 to 4 at the Coral Centre. You can putt it up to me at SNAG golf but don't target me at archery or you'll pay the penalty at footie later.
Now to the EXCLUSIVE extrct from the MayFest What's On Guide, the full version will be incorporated into the Entry Form which will issue on this site on Paddy's Day. Here's an extract from Saturday 24th May next:
Saturd 24th May
10 and 20 miles Tandem Road Time Trials, Coachman’s Loop, around Dublin Airport. 10.30 pm (registration 9.30 pm)
Classic tandem trials with Race Director Denis Toomey, President, Irish Cycling Federation and London 2012 Ireland ParaCycling Manager. Each loop is 5 miles and you may declare for 2 or 4 loops. While many will compete you may also treat this as a touring cycle.
Standard Registration, ALSAA (beside Dublin Airport), from 9.pm.
Excluding road time trial tandem cyclists and B1 footballers all must register here on the day. Pick up you lunch vouchers, timetables, BBQ tickets here. Please note: all who pre-register before 3rd May have FREE admission to all events (excluding BBQ). Fees will apply to all others.
SNAG Golf, ALSAA Sports Hall, all day.
A unique way to learn how to play golf – SNAG is an acronym for So New At Golf. Morning session; come & try; afternoon session: competition.
Archery, ALSAA Sports Hall, morning.
Learn and develop skills with the Irish Archery Association
Indoor rowing, ALSAA Sports Hall, morning.
Learn the skills of rowing and test your fitness with Joe Cunningham, Paralympic Ireland national rowing coach.
Flickering, ALSAA track, morning.
Have fun as you take to the scooter and flicker.
Tandem Come & Try, ALSAA track, morning.
Tandem pilots will be at the ready to take you on our provided bicycles for spins on the track.
Lunch, ALSAA private bar area, early afternoon
Complimentary sandwiches/baps plus tea/coffee for all participants and volunteers.
Tandem 4k individual purusit, ALSAA track, afternoon.
Tandem pilots will be at the ready to help you test you skills.
Spinning, ALSAA, afternoon.
Introduction to equipment and a short interactive demo..
Para Swimming Gala, ALSAA swimming pool, aftenoon.
Legendary swim coach Frank Cullinane will be waiting to take you through your stoke in a swimming completion for people of all disabilities.
Track & Field athletics, ALSAA track, afternoon.
An extensive set of events to suit all (see Entry Form for full list). There will be plenty of scope for those who wish to drop in and have a go.
Tenpin bowling, ALSAA Bowl, afternoon.
Come and try and competition in a 2 hour session.
Blind football, Ballymun United, afternoon.
Training, a friendly match and, finally, a chance for spectators to be blindfolded and join in.
Novelty, ALSAA track, afternoon.
Fun novelty events including Tug o’ War.
Barbeque, ALSAA, evening (6-9pm approx.).
Let the hair down after a day’s exhilaration. Full menu and music (DJ). Tickets 10 Euros to members who pre-register; 15 for non-members who pre-register. An extra levy will apply to those who purchase after pre-regristration date of 3rd May
Wednesday 5th March 2014
This website – www.visionsports.ie – is gone MayFest hairy mad!
So, in case you don’t know yet what MayFest is: let me spell it out! M-A-Y-F-E-S-T.
M is for MayFest – the multi sports weekend for visually impaired people and friends which takes place in Dublin from 23rd – 25th May. Most events will take place at the ALSAA Sports Complex, beside Dublin Airport. We will also be availaing of facilities at the National League of the Blind and Ballymu Football Club.
A is for accommodation – very difficyouult to find on MayFest weekend as One Direction and New Kids on the Block mania hits town. However, have no fear Vision Sports Ireland have trumped them all with an excellent offer, or two.
Y is for you – you’re welcome – whatever your ability or disability – to participate, spectate or officiate
F is for FREE – Entry all sports events is with more FREE as long as you pre-register before 3rd May. After that, you’ll pay the price!
E is for Entry Form – The entry from is currently in draft mode and will issue on week beginning 17th March.
S is for sports and social – There will be competition and come and try in athletics, tandem cycling, SNAG golf, tenpin bowling, indoor rowing, b1 football and futsal. More come and try in spinning and flickering. More fun with novelty sports and tug o’ war with more announcements soon. . We hit the beaches of Malahide and Portmarnock for the Sunday walk. We meet and greet at the National League of the Blind on Friday evening with some board games and a Just an Hour quiz. On Saturday night we host a barbeque and entertainment (10 Euros for members, 15 for non-members).
T is for training – well, you don’t really need to train but it could help if you’re thinking of taking in some of the main competitions. Of course, you could always drop down to MarchFest in Killarney this weekend and get a real feel for MayFest.
Sunday 2nd March 2014
Celebs, we’ve had a few, but then again, too few to mention?
If you’re under 35 and have not studied communications and broadcasting you’ll never have heard o Liam Nolan (see photo on left). However, Liam from Cobh, outside Cork city, was a BBC and ITV legend who went on to host Ireland’s first ever personality based radio programme in 1968 : the Liam Nolan Hour (which ended up as almost two hours!)
Anyway if you assume that MayFest is a re-incarnation of our old May Games well then let’s roll back to 1986. Liam Nolan came along to the May Games in ’86 to present a few prizes. He liked what he saw and came back to be our president two years later. No doubt, Liam is a legend, ay be reading this from his Loughrea home so we’ll just say thank you.
Liam’s successor as Vision Sports Ireland president was Fred Cogley, another legendary broadcaster who was also head of RTE Sport. Fred presided over the last May Games in 2010.
The late Colm Murray was our most recent president and also went to great lengths to promote us, Paralympics Ireland and by extension the May Games.
So, outside broadcasting, who else has attended the old May Games? Mostly politicians including the odd Minister for Sport with a cheque in hand. CJ came in ’86; Noel Carrol in ’81 and, of course, Jason and Michael in 2005 (we’ll come back to that).
Now back to 2014 and MayFest. We are on the hunt for celebs. Oisin Jordan at the FAI is helping us as long as we don’t mention Saipan! But, what about Mother Theresa? Or, any chance of Fergie?
Ok, think I’m digging a hole here, maybe a sinkhole!
So, it goodnight from him (Liam Nolan, a legend) and goodnight from me.
Saturday 1st March 2014
Thursday night’s conference call with our Org-Com was sensible enough for 55 minutes, then along comes The Lady in Pink (or so we think).
Before going there let’s confirm we now have 11 sports at MayFest with a further four more under active consideration.
Let’s look here at the first of these confirmed sports: athletics. Here the full athletics programme wich will take place on Saturday afternoon, 24th May, at the ALSAA track, near Dublin airport.
Under 12 Under 18
60m 100m
100m 400m
400m 1,500m
Long Jump Long Jump
Ball Throw Javelin
Seniors Vets
100m 100m
800m 800m
3,000m 3,000m
Long Jump Long Jump
High Jump Shot Putt
Javelin Javelin
Under 6’s, 8’s, 10’s
(Fun events – to be ready for if younger competitors turn up)
60m
80m
Long Jump
Ball Throw
Turbo Javelin
Relays
Teams of 4. These teams can be mixed teams, but competitors names and numbers must be submitted one hour before competition.
Now back to our Think Pink People. At the end of last night’s Org-Com call the subject of the official MayFest t-shirt arose. Somebody must have read Claire Patience’ comments in relation to the RNIB Tandem Tour. This event forms part of the Giro d’Italia festivities in Lurgan on 8th May next. Claire mentioned that all tandem participants will be given pink t-shirts. Now our Think Pink People wish to be pretty in pink at MayFest 2014. Now, I seeing red!
I didn’t wear a white t-shirt last year so there’s not a chance I’ll be caught in pink.
So, it goodnight from Claire and goodnight from me.
Wednesday 26th February 2014.
Turn on the wireless and all ya hear about is whistle blowers, penalty points for driving and big pay for big shots.
Take a day off and join us at the Coral Centre in Killarney on Saturday week and we’ll have plenty of whistle blowers taking you through kick about football; there’ll be no penalty points for driving at SNAG golf and there’ll be no pay for big shots at archery!
Yes, as our promo says, all lakes lead to Killarney for MarchFest on Saturday 8th March from 11AM until 4PM.
After MarchFest we’ll have AprilFest in Dublin followed by the MayFest weekend from 23-25 May.
After last year’s inaugural MayFest the Org-Com put together a 10,000 word report, based on feedback from 32 attendees. One item jumped out at us: you asked for our support in helping you in the regions; you asked for more orgnaised regional events.
We believe we have pumped up our support to individuals around the country but have much more to do. Ideally, we would have liked to have done more in terms of organized events but this will come. We did initiate and support last summer’s water-skiing weekend in Cork; we usually support Camp Abilities which will take place in Tralee just before Easter…...and now we have MarchFest in the Kingdom.
Warren McDonald, a Kerry blow in from the Pale, has booked the local Coral Centre for us. Sarah McLoughlin and Chris Geraghty have been doing the prep. They have engaged with Warren for the footie, Michael O’Keefe for SNAG golf and Cork Archery Club for the you know what. It looks a really good programme and I hope to take part in the golf and archery (not sure about the footie yet, maybe)
I have great memories of Kerry. Going back to the great Dublin-Kerry GAA football rivalries of the ‘70s where I first saw a sign in a Tralee pub loo “we flushed the Jacks!’ That was then but I was back in Croker last August and saw the Jacks come back and the old banners were out “Kerry for Holidays, Dublin for Sam!”
If you’re like me and public transport dependent there are lots trains and buses to bring you to Killarney. I’ll take the 7am from Dublin Heuston and it stops at Portlaoise, Thurles, Limerick Junction (to pick up you Clare and Limerick folk), Mallow (pickup those from the People’s Republic), Banteer, Millstreet, Rathmore, arriving in Killarney at 1014. If that train is too early for you there are trains following the same track every two hours. Of course, there’s an airport down in Farrenfore too but I think stay grounded for once.
So, with 10 days to go now I think I’ll get some sleep for this one and … its goodnight from them (MarchFest Org-com) and goodnight from me
Monday 24th February 2014
It may have been a case of “one floor below me, yow don’t even know me” But, for sure, Fran Tyrell and this blogger crossed paths in the early ‘90s. Amazingly, Fran, the 2014 MayFest athletics organiser, and I only met up for the first time three months ago.
So, Fran and I both worked for the same Govt. department, in the same building and followed the same career path into computer programming – albeit for different departments ultimately - just over two decades ago. We’re not sure if we ever met in the lift but we were both in Belfield in 1993 for the biggest sports event ever staged for visually impaired people in Ireland: the European Athletics Championships for the Blind.
Like me, Fran voluntarily took a week off work to officiate at the Championships. Fran was then immersed in athletics as a competitor and coach at Dublin’s Fingallians. She knew Bernie and Joe Walsh, our great coaches, particularly well.
Meanwhile, I was Secretary of the Organising Committee of those Championships and, at times, I was living the dream, at other times I was living the organisational nightmare! History judges it all very well indeed and those Championships are still rated among the best Europeans ever held.
So roll on to late 2013 and Fran Tyrell seeks a new challenge. Fran checks out our new website – www.vsioonsports.ie – and sees a photo of Joe Walsh with my contact details at end of page. She puts one and one together, gets three but who cares? 21 years later Fran is back with us and now she’s our MayFest athletics boss!
I’m looking forward to our Org-Com conference call on Thursday. Fran will be a key contributor and God only knows what she’ll tell us. She’s so bubbly and full of enthusiasm and new ideas.
One thing Fran will have totally in hand. She is organising an abridged athletics programme to include competition in all the main athletics disciplines.
I’m looking forward to athletics competition back in MayFest. I may even go for a run there.
Its goodnight from her (Fran, wherever she’s floored) and goodnight from me
Saturday 22nd February 2014
I wonder has Stuart Lawler raised the bar too high for me now?
@stuartlawler was on the twitter machine last night and asked “who is the blogger on the @ibsportsireland website? It is very entertaining and very well written.”
Thanks Stuart but you have now raised the bar so high I will have to skip the high jump at this year’s MayFest
If you really want to know who our blogger is it’s so easy. Just come along to MayFest from 23-25th May and I’ll be there. I’ll be at the National League of the Blind for the launch and may be the Just an Hour quiz master. I’ll be there on Saturday and Sunday at ALSAA for 15 sports and will participate in some. I’ll be on the beaches of North Dublin for the 8k walk as we wind up MayFest on Sunday afternoon.
I don’t think I have ever met Stuart but here’s a man of phenomenal reputation. Like me, Stuart is an IT head. Unlike me, he specialises in assistive technology. My wife and her friends rave about Stuart! From being in the frontline of the National Council for the Blind (NCBI) level 1 support for technology for visually impaired people Stuart has more recently been promoted to running the Independent living skills centre for NCBI.
Of course since Des Kenny took over the CEO role at NCBI they have been a key supporter of Vision Sports Ireland (formerly Irish Blind Sports). Indeed, Des Kenny is key to the founding and building of sports for visually impaired people in Ireland.
As I sprinted across the finish line of the 800m at the very first May Games – now MayFest – in 1981 Des was there to meet me. With a cigarette in one hand and an RTE radio microphone in the other he asked me how it felt to win, and smash the Irish record? I can’t remember what I said but I’m sure he faced a major challenge in editing due to my generous use of expletives, some directed at Des himself for catching me as I crossed the line! Fair play to Des though. With his producer Pat Leahy, I was the lead in interview on the following evening’s RTE Radio 1’s Listen and See.
And so to the spring 2014 edition of NCBI News … this blogger is due to have a MayFest feature published there. I think it contains 300 words and about 50 puns!
In the meantime, thank you Des, Stuart, Finoula and Frank at the NCBI.
…and so it’s goodnight from them (NCBI) and goodnight from me.
Friday 21st February 2014
I think Michael O’Keefe from SNAG GOLF IRELAND - http://www.snaggole/- is a master of social networking.
I suspect he’s already had re-tweets from McElroy, Harrington and McDowell. Indeed someday I think he’ll get re-tweets from Bono, the Pope and the Queen.
Michael will bring his fantastic unique game to MarchFest in Killarney in a fortnight’s time and also to MayFest on 24th May at ALSAA at Dublin Airport.
Michael O’Keefe is a master of the twitter machine. By posting a simple message he can ensure that thousands of people see his message by pure persistence.
Of the 85 re-tweets for MayFest last year Michael can account for almost half! This year the re-tweets have already started and Michael is ahead once again!!! However, MayFest 2014 is almost certain to have hundreds of re-tweets so there’s a challenge for Michael!
Of course Michael has an excellent product to promote. He leads SNAG Golf in Ireland from his Cork base. SNAG stands for So New at Golf and is ideal way to introduce non-golfers to a truly beautiful sport. It’s a sophisticated version of the old indoor golf game which allows you raise the ball into an inflatable set of targets as well as try some ground play.
I will be in Killarney on 8th March at 11AM to help Michael set up. My next plan is to have a go. I love golf but never played it. Maybe, this will be my big break. C’mon, join in the fun.
…and it’s goodnight from him (Michael) and goodnight from me.
Thursday 20th February 2014
The boat that I row won't cross no ocean
The boat that I row won't get me there soon
But I got the love if you got the notion
The boat that I row's big enough for two
Me and you (Paralympic rowers, please)
Calm down, calm down. 47 years ago Neil Diamond wrote the lyrics, Mickie Most produced while Lulu belted it out. A No. 1, by accident, in the US (we’ll tell you all about that at the MayFest BBQ).
Yesterday afternoon I was reminded of the song as I strolled down by the Liffey at Memorial Park, just minutes after Joe Cunningham, Irish Para-rowing manager, had left the scene with his latest Para rowing open day, designed specifically for visually impaired women.
I rang Joe today, partly because this website had promoted the rowing open day for visually impaired and partly because I want Joe to be part of MayFest.
Of course Joe wants to be part of MayFest. Like last year he will bring two indoor rowing machines along and will attend himself, if at all possible.
Hopefully, our 4 visually impaired rowers from yesterday – Aine, Ellie, Emma and Roisin – will show us the way cos the boat that we row is big enough for more.
It’s goodnight from him (Joe) and goodnight from me (Joe).
Wednesday 19th February 2014
I’m in a bit of a bind tonight as I know of lotsa plans in cans but they won’t give me the can opener!
Instead I’ll let you in on some of the suggestions which have not made it to the planning stages.
One intriguing idea was that we should demo pole dancing! I’m absolutely serious. Apparently, as an exercise it is excellent for losing weight!
Less contentious but one which makes the mind boggle is fencing. To be fair, there may be merit here but, with such a long list of suggestions we’re sitting on the fence this year.
Someone also bounced the idea of trampolining ….we didn’t quite jump to it but we may at a future event..
However, I can tell you, subject to us providing a demo for ALSAA maintenance crew, flicker boarding is in! What is flicker boarding? I haven’t a notion but Fran Tyrell and Ann Cusack from our Org-Com are rumoured to be out on these boards every day!
Finally, from time to time I’ll dig into the vaults and bring you a tale from times past. For this one let’s go back to 1986 and a gem given to me by a member of our MayFest 2014 Org-Com Pat Kelly:
"I remember Charlie Haughey attending the May Games in ’86, with Miss Ireland, Anne Marie Gannon in toe (although with my blindness, I didn’t know he had company. 'Pat, meet Charlie Haughey?' beamed Terry Saunders, Games PRO. 'How are ya Charlie' I said, 'I believe you’re with a fine bird today'! Saunders pinched me and quickly moved me on as he wasn’t sure what I would say or do next! "
So, it's goodnight from Pat and goodnight from me.
Tuesday 18 February 2014
“Good friends are like stars.... You don't always see them, but you know they are always there’. Well that just about sums up our good friends at the National League of the Blind up on Dublin’s Hill St.
MayFest will now kick off at the League on Friday, 23rd May from 7pm. There’ll be a “Just an Hour” quiz preceded by some sport and leisure demos. Full bar and craic guaranteed.
So, next May we go back to our roots. Back to where we began 35 years ago. Following some meetings on their premises we first started up a sports club for visually impaired people in April 1979. 6 months later we were joined at the hip with the League where we sat merrily for almost 10 years.
The first May Games – the much loved predecessor to MayFest – was organizes from the League’s HQ at the adjacent house in Gardiner Place.
So, full circle we go and off to the hq of the heads who are in a League of their own. It should prove a great launch for MayFest and, hopefully, many who will be there on the night – old, new, borrowd and blue, will join in the fun of the whole weekend. As already mentioned on this blog we’ll finish MayFest on the beaches of North Dublin with a leisure walk. In between we’ll squeeze in 15 sports and get fired up for a Saturday night barbeque.
It’s goodnight from all of those League people who built May Games and it’s goodnight from me (who competed in and organized many).
Monday 17th February 2014
Here I go spilling the beans again!
Ah no, beans means …. A quick fix dinner in the micro on a stormy, wet winter’s night.
Now when the nights start getting longer and MayFest comes around maybe we could have a Barbie? Think about this ….
Cajun Marinated Chicken Fillet
Lambay Island Organic Steak burgers in a soft flour bap with mature cheddar cheese
Roast Vegetable Skewers
That’s 3 BBQ with a choice of 4 salads or potatoes
That’s a sample BBQ menu from Kyles Catering, the people who take care of all that culinary at ALSAA, our prime base for MayFest 2014.
So now, you’re the first to know that we’ll be having a MayFest BBQ at ALSAA from 6-9pm on Sat 24th May. Our MayFest Org-Com will start reviewing the menus tomorrow with a view to finding the optimum choice for best value.
We are also in discussions with a local DJ, not just in relation to the BBQ, but also the provision of public address announcements throughout MayFest Saturday.
Now what do you not want with a PA sound . ? Feedback! Now, what do we want when it comes to choosing food? Feedback! Send feedback to sports@visionsports.ie
So, it’s goodnight form Caroline Fogarty from our Org-Com who suggested a Barbie and goodnight from me (who’s looking forward to a flamin' great night)
Friday 14th February 2014
Beep beep, beep beep, beep ....
On the 3rd ring the President of Cycling Ireland answers my call. A minute later he says "well, the Ras will be finishing the weekend of MayFest but......I'll be at MayFest!"
Extraordinary response from an extraordinary man. Denis Toomey is a true friend of Vision Sports Ireland, a Corkonian whose love of tandem cycling ultimately led him to pilot at the Paralympics; go on to manage the Irish Para cycling team which won 5 medals at London 2012 and, ultimately, end up as President of Cycling Ireland last October. A supreme accolade for Denis, a supreme accolade for Para cycling, not least tandem cycling.
It was our mutual friend Pat Kelly who made the initial contact with Denis. I knew Denis, alright, and had met him a few times before. Also, Denis and I emailed each other from time to time, usually me looking for a favour. However, Par had cycled with Denis and had got to know him over the years.
My latest favour from Denis was a big one. Would he take the reiins for a MayFest road tandem tour. His response was positive and suggested we revert to the old 4 x 5 mile route for the tour around the airport with a time trial aspect. I should mention that Denis looked after a very similar event at our old May Games for several years.
The simplicity of the 5 mile route is that those who just want to tour 10 miles can join in too.
Denis and I then discussed the high level organisation aspects like sterwarding, Garda involvement, registration and that kind of thing. But, let me tell you now...we're looking at a 10 am registration for all cyclists with a push off time of 10.30 for the anchor time trialist on MayFest Saturday, 24th May.
Of course we accept the great little man at the top of Cycling Ireland will have several requests for engagements on MayFest Saturday. We also know we're close to his heart but, we fully understand too that he may be called away at the last minute. However, like all great people Denis always has a plan b or c or d. Let's not go there as Plan A is Denis, the man who has inspired so many of our visually impaired and disabled sportspeople.
.....and it's goodnight from him (Denis) and goodnight from Pat and myself. Good god, it's Valentine's night, must go get the flowers!
Wednesday 12th February 2014
Just scanning notes on the 2014 MayFest events for our Board Meeting tomorrow night. The list was compiled by our org-com who had a call togher last Thursday. I missed it so take no credit for what's below here on this fine list...
On the deffo list are 8 down so far (include competition and have a go or both). Then on the probables I see we have a further 5 funs ones. Then there's the ones we're still chasing. Here a sneak preview of what's in so far ...
Firstly, the deffos
Tandem cycling (road tour and come and try track).
Athletics (abridged Track and Field with come and try also)
SNAG Golf (have a go and have a go at compeition).
Swimming (Gala, probably a Para Gala).
Tenpin Bowling (test yourself or rest yourself).
Football (up to 4 different events here).
Sunday seaside walk (ideal the day after the night before).
Fun events e.g. Tug o' war
Probables
Lawn bowling (Introducing to sourhern Ireland, limited version).
Flickering (ha ha, work that out).
Rowing (just waiting on an old friend).
Adaptive tennis (more a probable but we just need to confirm details)
Archery (another probable but need to confirm).
Possibles
Judo (was dropped last year at 24 hours notice, we're apporaching it differently this year)
Blackball
Demos incl spinning, board games and more ...
and it's goodnight from them (the Org-Com) and goodnight from me. Oh yeh, and may your sport go with you wherever you may go...
Wednesday 5th February 2014
Just off the phone with Teresa and Michael Lavin, both of great walking fame.
Michael is just so enthusiastic. I propsed we hold a walk from Malahide to Portmarnock as part of MayFest on 25th May. You will, he says, and you'll walk riight back too. He told me we would walk the 8k from Malahide to Portmarnock and back and he will organise promotion, leader and final details. Not only that but he wants to start promoting the entire weekend straight away.
Of course our Org-Com will have work to do too.
I also let Michael into the secret of our unconfirmed MayFest Friday night plans. He was over the moon. As soon as I get the nod it's as good as a wink and I'll publish.
It's goodnight from him (Michael) and good night from me.
Saturday 1st February 2014
Great news this St. Bridget's storm weekend. We are actively looking at two pre-MayFest events for March and April.at
On 8th March we hope to be in Killarney to do some football and archery. There are still a few t's to be crossed but we are nearly there. Watch out for announcement in next week or so.
Meanwhile, perhaps late April, a private school in South Dublin san to host a multi sports weekend for visually impaired children. They are talking about athletics, archery, football and much more followed by a bbq. I have been designated to go chat with them so I will bring you more news as it happens.
Finally for now: the story so far is that that the band No Direction - I think I have it riight - have booked Dublin on the same weekend as MayFest. There's no doubting we will sing louuder and better that Saturday night, in particular. However, there's also no doubting they will book out all beds in Dublin City Centre. Book now, book around the Airport area for best results.
Thursday 30th January 2014
A slow start to the blog but by no means a slow start to MayFest 2014 preparation.
We sorted our dates and ALSAA venue bookings 4 months ago. We got a cracking organising committee together last November.
Ann Cusack from Waterford - Dean's grandmother - joins us. Ann has a huge love and background in sport and administration.
Chris Geraghty from Kildare is in a gap year from aviation studies. He officiated at last year's MayFest - golf and cycling - and now comes in as an intern at our office.
Fran Tyrrell disconvered us 21 years ago at our European Athletics Championships for the Blind in Dublin, our biggest event ever. Fran always promised to return and aftger a hectic 21 year's she's back. Fran is a football referee (including B1 coach) as well as an athletics coach.
Dundalk based Pat Kelly was our first Paralympians - with Martin Kelly - and has won numerous medals throughout the '80s and '90s. Pat is now a keen tandem cyclist, gmn person and walker.
Tony Lyster from south Dublin is one of just two VSI Board members on our Org-Com. Tony's your football man and a legend within sports for visually impaired sport in Ireland.
Caroline Fogarty - definitely not a Dub but I'll check this out - came to us last year as a volunteer, recruited by Colm Larkin, Chair of our new Sports Development Committee. Caroline never saw sport for visually impaired until she arrived at ALSAA last year.
Sarah Mc Loughlin is Vision Sports Ireland Executive Officer and Company Secretary. Sarah did reg last year. This year... no surprise if she cometes herself.
I'll try to keep it glued togethere but no fancy titles though - Joe G.
Sunday 12th January 2014
I love MayFest, I love the earlier May Games.
It goes all the way back to a sunny boat journey from Stranraer to Larne on Monday 8th September 1980. With the UK perpetual trophy for 1500m tucked away under my left arm I managed to get all the Irish team at those championships to sign a letter requesting we host our own Irish Games. All signed. We hosted our first May Games in Dublin on 2nd May 1981.
I stayed with the May Games as athlete/organiser up to the mid-‘90s. Family and work took precedence for a while. I returned to help with the last May Games in 2010, the 30th Games.
I recognised new thinking was needed if we were to re-launch. I also recognised we would need some old and new blood to put it together. Last year we held MayFest and the rest is history.
Over the coming months – from now until Friday 23rd May – I will give you the inside track on Mayfest 2014. I’ll let you know who we’re talking to, what’s in and out. Here you will know before anyone else what’s about to happen.
Joe G