The Irish Deaf Society launched its Signs of Life celebrity photographic exhibition at Filmbase in Temple Bar in October. There were 250 guests and celebrities who attended to launch the photographs of famous Irish people each signing a letter of the ISL alphabet.
Celebrities included – Vincent Browne, boxer Kenny Egan, singer Mary Black, Riverdance star Dearbhla Lennon and TV presenter Emma O’ Driscoll.
Kevin Mulqueen chairman of the IDS during his speech, said “The IDS has grown into a nationwide organisation with national council members all around the country. It is the support of Deaf people in Ireland that helped IDS establish itself to become the voice of the Deaf community….Tonight’s exhibition is a great way of promoting and increasing awareness of ISL..” Celebrity Sinead Desmond , who has a Deaf brother, Conor, opened the show with a few words “ISL is an Irish language, one that we all should be proud of and use”, she said. She ended her speech in ISL, saying” If I can do it, you can too”.
After the show’s run at Filmbase and Cabra the exhibition returned to Athy, the home-town of original exhibition. This was where Athy resident Maggie Owens came up with the concept two years ago of having local people sign the ISL letters. The locals were excited to see the new and exciting exhibition. At the opening in November, local students who are learning ISL as part of the Gásice awards showed off their signing skills with an ISL version of “Tonight’s gonna be a good night” . This came after an ISL puppet show for the kids.
Then the show moved again to the Linenhall art centre in Castlebar, Co Mayo. The town’s mayor Eugene Mc Cormack opened the exhibition, saying: “It’s real highlight to the locals of Mayo to have this kind of art exhibition here and for the Irish Deaf Society to promote ISL, which is needed.” At the invitation of a school in Ballyvara, the Signs of Life Project Manager from the IDS Tracey Treanor met 40 hearing students who greeted her in ISL and signed the Christmas song “Silent Night” in ISL.
Before finishing up for Christmas, Monaghan town hosted the exhibition, attracting 600 hearing school children who engaged in ISL educational activities, signing and singing to Christmas songs! The Irish Deaf Society would like to thank the dedicated Signs of Life team including Maggie Owens, photographer Johnny Corcoran, Fran Mc Nulty, David Somers, Wendy Murray, Caroline Whelehan and Jane O Brien for all their free time and dedication in making this project a success! The more people who know about ISL, the more likely we can achieve our dreams of ISL recognition.