Claire Whelan, our Treasurer, is visually impaired. You have probably seen her around the area, accompanied by her beautiful guide dog, Cassie.

Claire is an enthusiastic player of blind tennis and is always ready to demonstrate how disability need not be a barrier to enjoying this fun and healthy activity. As part of the Dublin City Council Positive Ageing Week, which ran from 28 September to 4 October, Claire visited Trinity Comprehensive School with Niall McDonald from Dublin City Council to demonstrate the special equipment and techniques which enable people who are visually impaired to play tennis.

About 20 pupils attended the demonstration, all carefully socially distanced of course. They showed great interest and enthusiasm in embracing the challenge of a slightly different way of playing tennis. The event was great fun for everyone! It also allowed us to challenge stereotypes about what disabled people can and can’t do and prove that there need be no barriers to sport for everyone!

Sadly, the limitations related to the pandemic meant that Claire and her team could not interact as much as usual with the pupils, but she hopes to return again in the future to continue to spread the word.