Séan Herlihy

Séan Herlihy is the latest presenter for the RTÉ programme ‘Hands On’, a Mind the Gap Films production for the Deaf and hard of Hearing community. Last weeks programme dealt with the fascinating history of St Mary’s School for Deaf girls in Cabra. 

Cork born and Dublin educated teacher Séan Herlihy went to St Joseph’s School for the Deaf and is currently a secondary school teacher there. 

“I have three sisters and the two eldest sisters are deaf. My parents knew I was deaf after two sisters. It is wonderful to have deaf sisters as we can communicate through Irish Sign Language. We can all sign and lip-read together.”

When asked why he moved to St Joseph’s School for the Deaf in Cabra, Séan said, “There weren’t really anyfacilities available for my family and I in Cork. There was no support for second-level students in mainstream schools. My two sisters had already been educated in St Mary’s School in Dublin so I moved to S. Joseph’s. In the first few weeks I was homesick and missed GAA training with my local team.”

In Gambia, West Africa to visit a friend, Séan taught some classes and realised that was his calling. “I applied for a Higher Diploma in Education at Trinity and got a place. The services for the Deaf in Trinity were brilliant and they were very supportive.”

In 2002, someone approached Séan about being a TV presenter and gave him contact information for a director of the show and, after an interview, Séan got the role. “I love it because I get to meet new people and visit different places.”

Seán is involved with a number of organisations including Irish Deaf Youth, Irish Deaf Sports, Irish and UK Deaf Youth Camp and he was the president of the European Union of the Deaf from 2005-2007.

"It was a fantastic experience and I loved meeting new people,” he says.

St Mary’s School for Deaf Girls in Cabra was established during the Famine in 1846 and is on of the oldest Deaf schools in the world. It continues to teach deaf girls to this day and has influenced schools as far away as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and North America. 

Through remarkable archive footage, photographs and personal accounts of past pupils and teachers, Séan explores the School’s unlikely establishment during the Famine, how the 'Cabra Method' of educating Deaf children spread all over the world and how the controversial decision to ban sign language in 1950 in favour of an 'oral education' impacted on students at the time. 

Séan will also be on RTÉ 1 this Sunday at 12.10pm, speaking about a new Deaf village in Ireland. More details are available at www.scidp.ie.

If you missed the show, it is available on RTÉ Player http://www.rte.ie/player and for more information for the Deaf and hard of Hearing visit www.irishdeafsociety.ie

Name: Séan Herlihy

Occupation: Teacher 

Location: Dublin

Favourite thing about Cork: West Cork and of course, Barry’s Tea!

Least favourite thing about Cork: Too many roadworks.