Nine-year-old Colm Dunne of Paulstown, Co. Kilkenny — who lost his sight due to Retinoblastoma — and who along with two other children were invited to ring the Peace Bell at Áras an Uachtaráin for the visit of President Barack Obama.
Colm Dunne’s wish to meet President Mary McAleese turned into a further wish of a lifetime when he was invited by the President to ring the Peace Bell at Áras an Uachtaráin for the visit of President Barack Obama and the first lady of the USA.

Colm made his initial wish when he was a patient in Our Lady’s Hospital Crumlin, through the Make a Wish Foundation. His wish was simply to meet President Mary McAleese (who is Patron of NCBI) and he did that two years ago. President McAleese did not forget him and invited him back, along with two other school children, to ring the Peace Bell for President Obama and his wife on the occasion of their visit to the Áras.

Colm and his dad Tony, travelled up to Dublin on the night before the visit and stayed at Bewley’s Hotel, Newland’s Cross, which made it easier to get over to the Áras on that important Monday morning. But Colm wasn’t to be overawed by the prestigious occasion; the only thought on his mind was to get back to Scoil Bhride, Paulstown, where principal Mrs. Mary Holden and his school friends were waiting to hear all about the great meeting. His younger brother Peter and Mum Eileen were waiting anxiously at home for their special report.

With the resources of his school and of NCBI, Colm is pursuing his education in this mainstream school. He and his family can call on the services of NCBI through its Carlow-Kilkenny Community Resource Worker Judith Martin. He uses a Perkin’s Brailler and dad Tony told NCBI News that the family are delighted with the supports and encouragement he receives.