Talking newspaper service gets a voice at Belfast event

23 May 2018

TWO volunteers from the local Downsound talking newspaper attended a special event at Belfast City Hall recently.

Margaret Orr and Deirdre Curran were among a host of volunteers who gathered to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Association of Talking Newspapers in Northern Ireland (ATTNI).

At the same event, there was a formal launch of a promotional CD to raise awareness of the benefits of talking newspapers.

Lord Mayor, Nuala McAllister, welcomed around 100 guests to City Hall which included volunteer readers and visually impaired people with their carers.

The ATTNI has been in existence for 40 years and has 400 volunteers, from teenagers doing their Duke of Edinburgh award schemes, to retirees who give their time willingly.

The aim of the association is to support, represent and develop the work of voluntary talking newspaper organisations within Northern Ireland which undertake the systematic provision of news and other material in audio recorded formats for the benefit of blind and partially sighted people.

Downsound — launched by Downpatrick Lions Club in November 1977 — keeps people across the district abreast with the latest developments, with its first tapes distributed on Armistice Day.

The local talking newspaper’s founding members included John Riordan, Margaret Orr, Richard Prytherch and Terry Torney.

Originally located in the Teachers’ Centre at Mount Crescent, Downsound later moved to Pound Lane, then to the town’s Social Services offices base at Market Street.

After a spell at the former St. John’s Nursing Home in Pound Lane, the group finally settled at the Downshire Hospital where it was offered various rooms to record, edit and pack up the tapes for distribution, which is looked after by the Post Office free of charge.

Anyone who would like to receive more information about the talking newspaper or has any further queries is asked to contact Liam Conlon on 07738 022633.

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