Advocacy Talks with Vision Ireland

Vision Ireland

Welcome to Advocacy Talks from Vision Ireland. Hosted by Madeleine McNamara, Advocacy Talks aims to bring you conversations with interesting people about blindness, advocacy, and everything in between.Contact the advocacy team at Vision Ireland by emailing campaigns@VI.ie .

  1. 17/12/2025

    Advocacy Talks Episode 11 - VIP Band

    Are you an experienced musician who is blind or vision impaired? Have you always wanted to be in a band? Well, if so, here is your opportunity. Tony Mc Donald plays electric bass in a gigging band and has been involved in many bands over the years where he is the only person with a vision impairment.  He is now trying to form a band made up entirely of musicians who are blind or vision impaired. Support the show

    27 min

  2. 26/11/2025

    Advocacy Talks Episode 10 - The essential role of Audio Description.

    In this episode we talk to Dr Lucia Pintado Gutierrez following the publication of her report The Challenges of Audio Description in Ireland: Bridging Education, Users and Industry (ADESI). This research examines the current provision of audio description services in Ireland across media, theatre, museums and sport and how this could be improved. Support the show

    31 min

  3. 24/10/2025

    Advocacy Talks Episode 9 - Budget 2026

    On this episode of Advocacy Talks, Jamie Millar tells us about budget 2026. From social welfare payments to the cost of disability, here’s everything you need to know. Support the show

    26 min

  4. 17/09/2025

    Advocacy Talks Episode 8 - Access to sport with Sean Moyles

    On this episode of advocacy talks we catch up with Sean Moyles from vision sports Ireland to learn about his research into physical literacy for those with acquired visual impairments. Sean also tells us about how he got into sport growing up, with major influence from his parents.   Have an acquired visual impairment? Complete Sean‘s survey here. https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=9G3_Y6KeI062qbTCTc4rvHW0LpBWS-9CkVP-EDCvHxtUMEtUUzJDWlJVSTBVSVkzTEI4TjlJRTFJVy4u To get in touch with the advocacy team send an email to campaigns@vi.ie. Support the show

    33 min

  5. 20/08/2025

    Advocacy Talks Episode 7 - Please, Please, please, Clear Our Paths!!!

    On this episode of Advocacy Talks, we speak to Roisin Lenehan and Deirdre Deverell about the 2025 Clear Our Paths campaign.  From bins and cars to branches and dog poo, temporary obstacles on footpaths create risks for those who are blind or vision impaired, as well as just being a general pain.  With 16% of people requiring a hospital or doctor’s visit following an encounter with a temporary obstacle, we have one simple message: Please, please, please, Clear Our Paths!!! Support the show

    26 min

  6. 23/07/2025

    Advocacy Talks episode 6 - Being proud of blindness with Bobbie Hickey

    On this episode of advocacy talks we catch up with Bobbie Hickey, who recently wrote a really interesting article for the Irish Times. With this month being disability pride month, what does it mean to be proud of something that so many people fear? Bobbie also discusses her journey seeking support, and why it’s important to ensure you feel in control when doing so. Want to get in touch with the advocacy team? Send an email now to campaigns@VI.ie Support the show

    29 min

  7. 25/06/2025

    Advocacy Talks episode 5 - Tytti Matsinen tells us about the European Blind Union

    In this episode of Advocacy Talks Madeleine speaks with Tytti Matsinen, president of the European Blind Union. They discuss what the EBU is and what issues it’s currently advocating on.  Want to get in touch with the advocacy team? Send an email now to campaigns@vi.ie Support the show

    34 min

  8. 21/05/2025

    Advocacy talks episode 4 - European Mental Health Week with Peter O’Toole

    This week is European Mental Health Week, 2025. so Madeleine caught up with our Head of Counselling, Wellbeing & Emotional Support Peter O’Toole to discuss “Mental Health as a Social Right” From a discussion on loneliness to the services provided by the counselling team at Vision Ireland, there really is a lot to talk about. Want to get in touch with the advocacy team? Send an email now to campaigns@vi.ie Support the show

    29 min
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About

Welcome to Advocacy Talks from Vision Ireland. Hosted by Madeleine McNamara, Advocacy Talks aims to bring you conversations with interesting people about blindness, advocacy, and everything in between.Contact the advocacy team at Vision Ireland by emailing campaigns@VI.ie .

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