Tag Archives: Vision Ireland

News

Billy And Friends Take A Dawn Dip For Vision Ireland

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Liam Counihan, Bríd McCarthy, Tony O’Connor and Muriel Soden emerge from the sea after the DIP AT Dawn in Fenit on Summer Solstice, June 21.

A LOCAL man was joined by a few fellow early risers for the ‘Dip At Dawn’ for Vision Ireland at Fenit on Friday last.

Billy Ryle led the swim in Fenit and described the event as an emotional event of extraordinary symbolism.

The swimmers were in Fenit at 5am to watch the darkness break into light over Tralee Bay on a dry, overcast morning before taking a dip in the breaking waves.

Continued below…

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As a few sun rays penetrated the clouds, Billy said his thoughts turned to the two deceased individuals who bequeathed the gift of sight to him when he needed a corneal transplant in each of his eyes in 2022.

Billy Ryle was in Fenit at dawn on Friday, 21st June to greet the Summer Solstice

He also said a silent prayer for the blind and visually impaired people for whom the journey through life is challenging. Vision Ireland is dedicated to helping them overcome the barriers that impede their independence and participation in society.

The novel fundraiser for Vision Ireland was the brainchild of Senator Martin Conway of Ennistymon, Co. Clare, who has lived most of his life with sight loss.

He encouraged the public to take a ‘Dip At Dawn on the longest day in the year as a symbol of support for the 296, 000 people in Ireland who are blind or visually impaired.

Billy Ryle’s fundraising page for the DIP AT DAWN is now open at www.vi.ie and at the fundraising platform, www.idonate.ie and he is appealing to people throughout the county to prove how generous Kerry people are by digging deep for Vision Ireland.

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News, WHAT'S ON

Billy Wants You To Join Him For A ‘Dip At Dawn’ In Aid Of Vision Ireland

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Billy Ryle at the Fenit Christmas Swim back in December.

A TRALEE man is inviting people to the “Dip at Dawn” fundraiser at Locke’s Beach, Fenit at 5am on Friday next, June 21.

Billy Ryle wants the public to go along to celebrate the Summer Solstice and dip, splash, swim or paddle with the thousands of people across the world in a dip at dawn for Vision Ireland, formerly National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI).

Vision Ireland’s mission is to enable people who are blind and vision impaired to overcome the barriers that impede their independence and participation in society.

Continued below…

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This fundraiser for Vision Ireland is the brainchild of Senator Martin Conway of Ennistymon, Co. Clare, who has lived most of his life with sight loss.

Martin knows the struggle of those who are faced with sight loss so on the 21st June he is encouraging the public to take to the sea, river, bath, sink, and dip at dawn as we welcome the longest day in the year as a symbol of support for the 296, 000 people in Ireland who are blind or visually impaired.

A few years ago, Billy contracted a disease in his eyes called Fuchs Dystrophy which required him to have a corneal transplant operation in each eye at Bon Secours Hospital, Cork in order to save his sight. Fortunately, both surgeries were successful and Billy’s eyesight was restored to a functional level.

You can register for the ‘Dip at Dawn’ on the Vision Ireland website, www.vi.ie and even if you can’t make it to Fenit you can still register and have your own Dip, Splash, Swim, Shower, Bath or Paddle at your convenience.

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