Benches to be unveiled in Jordanstown for blind and deaf campaigners

by Gráinne Connolly

The British Deaf Association (BDA) based in Northern Ireland, in partnership with the Ulster Society for Promoting the Education of the Deaf and Blind, are hosting an Evening of Remembrance and Celebration in Jordanstown later.

It's taking place at Jordanstown School for Deaf and Visually Impaired Children from 6pm until 9pm.

The event will celebrate the significant impact made by two Deaf men and a blind man, particularly in education for deaf and visually impaired children.

In addition, six deaf children who tragically died as a result of a fire at the School for Deaf Children in Strabane in 1856 will be remembered.

The evening's been timed to coincide with and mark 'International Week of the Deaf', an annual initiative organised by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD).

The theme this year is 'With Sign Language , Everyone is Included'.

The International Day of Sign Languages has also been celebrated this week. It has been adopted by the UN General Assembly to be celebrated annually on 23rd September, beginning in 2018.

Agnes Dyab, Chair of the BDA, stated

“The strapline for International Week of the Deaf is “With sign language, everyone is included” and the BDA felt that this was a fitting time to celebrate and commemorate the commitment of many local figures towards achieving equality for Deaf people over the years.

"The BDA continue to work towards this goal today.”

Memorial benches will be unveiled for the two outstanding Deaf individuals. One being Bob McCullough (1929 - 2016) a campaigner for the best possible education for deaf children and adults.

He's also a highly respected journalist who produced the weekly 'Deaf Talkabout' column in the Belfast Telegraph for 30 years. McCullough was the recipient of numerous awards including the British Deaf Association's highest award - the Medal of Honour, in 2004.

The other memorial bench will be unveiled for Francis Maginn (1861 - 1918).

He was born in Mallow, County Cork, and was one of the first Irish students to study at Gallaudet College in Washington DC. He was instrumental, along with two others, in establishing the British Deaf and Dumb Association (now known as the British Deaf Association - BDA) in 1890.

The campaigner was also a Missioner to the Adult Deaf and Dumb of Ireland (which became the Ulster Institute for the Deaf in 1961) from 1888 to 1918.

A further bench will be unveiled for James Anderson who was an inspirational blind educator.

James lost his sight in early childhood. He was a pupil at the old School for Deaf and Blind Children on the Lisburn Road in Belfast, from the age of four years.

He became a teacher at the School and later became Head of the Blind Department (the School re-located to Jordanstown in 1961 ).

It's understood James spent basically his whole school days and teaching career at the School.

He was the first blind student to graduate with a degree from Queen's University, Belfast and set up a Braille Unit at Crumlin Road Prison, where the prisoners produced Braille material for blind children at Jordanstown School.

A bench will also be unveiled for six Deaf children who perished in a fire at the School for Deaf Children in Strabane on the 7th May 1856. 

Wendy Newbronner, the Chair of Jordanstown Board of Governors and the mother of three deaf children currently attending the school, said “It will be an evening to celebrate the achievements of three outstanding deaf and blind individuals who had a strong connection with this school.

"Their legacy can act as an inspiration for our current pupils. It is also a time to remember the six innocent deaf children who perished so tragically in the school fire in Strabane all those years ago”

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Paul Michael commented,

"I am delighted to support the launch of this very special joint project between Jordanstown Schools and the BDA Northern Ireland to honour the memory of the children who so tragically lost their lives in Strabane, whilst at the same time celebrating the significant achievements of Francis Maginn, Bob McCullough and James Anderson."