Connect with us

Community

Unveiling of local culture and heritage installations with Irish Sign Language interpretation on Limerick Greenway

Published

1 week ago

on

Kathleen Daffy, Community Resource Officer, Chime; Tadhg Ó’Maolcatha, Comhaltas, and Mary Kiely, ISL advocate and member of the deaf community who provided the ISL interpretation videos for the installations, pictured during Irish Sign Language Awareness Week. Picture: Michael O’Sullivan /OSM PHOTO

Two culture and heritage audio installations with Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation were unveiled on Limerick Greenway

Two culture and heritage audio installations with Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation were unveiled on Limerick Greenway
Representatives from Chime, The ISL Community, and Limerick City and County Council, pictured during Irish Sign Language Awareness Week.
Picture: Michael O’Sullivan /OSM PHOTO

Two culture and heritage audio installations with Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation were unveiled on Limerick Greenway as part of Irish Sign Language Awareness Week, adding to the visitor experience along the 40km route.

Cllr Jerome Scanlan officially launched the new installations, in a celebration of West Limerick culture and heritage.

The installations at Barnagh Viewing Point and by Tullig Wood, take the form of a dial-up audio box that, when turned, play traditional music and provide facts about local heritage and biodiversity. ISL interpretation will make the experience inclusive for visitors who are deaf or hearing impaired.
 
Designed by audio-visual interpretive specialists -“Blackbox Av”- the new installations will allow Limerick Greenway visitors to actively engage with the area’s rich local heritage. Once visitors dial-up the audio box installation, local songs such as ‘The Sweet Little Girl from Barnagh’ and ‘Rathcahill Hill’ will play.


advertisement
advertisement


advertisement
advertisement


advertisement
advertisement

Cllr. Jerome Scanlan, and Mary Kiely, ISL advocate and member of the deaf community. Picture: Michael O’Sullivan /OSM PHOTO

It will also provide information specific to the West Limerick region, guiding visitors on the panoramic view from Barnagh, and on biodiversity and the special protection area near Barnagh. The installation serves as an educational function, allowing users to explore and learn about the culture that has shaped West Limerick countryside.
 
An Irish Sign Language (ISL) interactive element will enhance accessibility where visitors who are deaf or hearing impaired can engage with an attached QR code.

By using their smartphones to scan this code, visitors are directed to an ISL interpretation video of the audio installations, which displays signed versions of the history and local music featured in the installation. The videos are signed by local woman, Mary Kiely, which ensures this installation is accessible for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Related Topics:

Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.