DEAF TALKABOUT
DEAF TALKABOUT
Bob McCullough
Subtitles that carried the grim story of destruction and carnage
FOR A large part of Saturday and Sunday we sat mesmerised with horror as our subtitles brought us I news of the destruction and growing death toll. More than any other town in the province, Omagh has been a place where sectarian differences have meant little and the deaf folk are especially warm and friendly.
I have been there many times for meetings, dinners and parties.
Teachers at a school asked me to meet some of the deaf children at the hearing impaired unit and education is the only priority with them and their parents.
Deaf people visiting the town have always been warmly welcomed at the home of Maureen Haughey and her family. The story of her long wait to marry Robert Graham, from Kilkeel, was in Deaf Talkabout several years ago.
The essential thing about the deaf community is that many of us hold strong religious principles yet never allow them to interfere with friendship or even marriage.
Everywhere I go, to Dublin, Galway, Cork, Derry, Belfast and especialy Omagh, compatability has been the only rule for friendship. I am sure many hearing folk feel the same and the mothers searching for new school uniforms on Saturday would hardly care what church the shop-owner belonged to. In Sean O'Casey's The Shadow Of A Gunman, one of the leading characters made an emotive speech in which he tried to wind up the crowd by appealing to them to fight for freedom and fertislise the land of Ireland with their blood.
In the new best seller Angela's Ashes, we find the same false patriotism with the heartbreaking story of a feckless father trying to bring up his small son to die for Ireland while living in poverty.
It is my firm conviction that whole generations of our people have suffered this emotional blackmail and that on both sides of our religious divide it has been passed on by word of mouth from generation to generation.
We deaf people should be grateful that, for the most part, we have been cut off from this constant emotional harassment.
THE ULSTER TEMPLE is organising an open-air songs of praise in Ormeau Park at 6.30pm on Sunday, August 30. A sign language interpreter will be available and deaf people are welcome.
It will take place beside the leisure centre at the Ravenhill Road/Ormeau Embankment side of the park.
JAMES McKERNAN, secretary of the Irish deaf bowling team, has asked me to announce that five men and five women will be needed for the team to represent Ireland at the World Games for the deaf in South Africa in July next year.
James would like to get the team formulated as soon as possible and is organising trials to be held at Musgrave Park on Saturday at 6.30pm and at Dublin on August 29.
Please contact James at his home - 25 Fairview Park, Mosside Road, Dunmurry, Belfast BT17 - or minicom him on 600265. Even if you do not feel good enough for the team he would like you to come and support the others. THE IRISH DEAF Sports Association are holding a dinner dance in Stakis hotel, Charlemont, Dublin, on Saturday, September 19 to celebrate their 30th anniversary and tickets are �25.
Contact Eamon McCaffery by minicom or fax on 842849. Closing date for tickets is September 3.
THE ULSTER DEAF Sports Association will hold their annual five-a-side football tournament at Maysfield Leisure Centre on Saturday, August 29, with a kick-off at 10am. For entry forms contact Eamon McCaffery or Paul McMenamy.
Bob McCullough
Subtitles that carried the grim story of destruction and carnage
FOR A large part of Saturday and Sunday we sat mesmerised with horror as our subtitles brought us I news of the destruction and growing death toll. More than any other town in the province, Omagh has been a place where sectarian differences have meant little and the deaf folk are especially warm and friendly.
I have been there many times for meetings, dinners and parties.
Teachers at a school asked me to meet some of the deaf children at the hearing impaired unit and education is the only priority with them and their parents.
Deaf people visiting the town have always been warmly welcomed at the home of Maureen Haughey and her family. The story of her long wait to marry Robert Graham, from Kilkeel, was in Deaf Talkabout several years ago.
The essential thing about the deaf community is that many of us hold strong religious principles yet never allow them to interfere with friendship or even marriage.
Everywhere I go, to Dublin, Galway, Cork, Derry, Belfast and especialy Omagh, compatability has been the only rule for friendship. I am sure many hearing folk feel the same and the mothers searching for new school uniforms on Saturday would hardly care what church the shop-owner belonged to. In Sean O'Casey's The Shadow Of A Gunman, one of the leading characters made an emotive speech in which he tried to wind up the crowd by appealing to them to fight for freedom and fertislise the land of Ireland with their blood.
In the new best seller Angela's Ashes, we find the same false patriotism with the heartbreaking story of a feckless father trying to bring up his small son to die for Ireland while living in poverty.
It is my firm conviction that whole generations of our people have suffered this emotional blackmail and that on both sides of our religious divide it has been passed on by word of mouth from generation to generation.
We deaf people should be grateful that, for the most part, we have been cut off from this constant emotional harassment.
THE ULSTER TEMPLE is organising an open-air songs of praise in Ormeau Park at 6.30pm on Sunday, August 30. A sign language interpreter will be available and deaf people are welcome.
It will take place beside the leisure centre at the Ravenhill Road/Ormeau Embankment side of the park.
JAMES McKERNAN, secretary of the Irish deaf bowling team, has asked me to announce that five men and five women will be needed for the team to represent Ireland at the World Games for the deaf in South Africa in July next year.
James would like to get the team formulated as soon as possible and is organising trials to be held at Musgrave Park on Saturday at 6.30pm and at Dublin on August 29.
Please contact James at his home - 25 Fairview Park, Mosside Road, Dunmurry, Belfast BT17 - or minicom him on 600265. Even if you do not feel good enough for the team he would like you to come and support the others. THE IRISH DEAF Sports Association are holding a dinner dance in Stakis hotel, Charlemont, Dublin, on Saturday, September 19 to celebrate their 30th anniversary and tickets are �25.
Contact Eamon McCaffery by minicom or fax on 842849. Closing date for tickets is September 3.
THE ULSTER DEAF Sports Association will hold their annual five-a-side football tournament at Maysfield Leisure Centre on Saturday, August 29, with a kick-off at 10am. For entry forms contact Eamon McCaffery or Paul McMenamy.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0099
Published Date: 19-Aug-98
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