“It is a special place and I always feel a real kinship when I’m here” says show co-host Kerry during her travels across the pond. Brian is live from the studio solo, but is joined by his sister and co-host over Zoom currently enjoying her final week in Ireland. We’re talkin’ travel this week on Outlook.

Kerry discusses the first 2 weeks of her trip spent in Dublin and other regions of Southern Ireland. This is her second time visiting, though since her first in 2011 she has lost more vision. For someone who was born blind but used to see a little more than now, the brain still tries to process sight seeing when it isn’t easy to focus anymore. This can be mentally draining at times, but yet allows for a different unique perspective. While people may assume traveling and going on tours when you can’t see wouldn’t be interesting, there is so much you can still gain from an experience without sight. Kerry has been recording audio diaries on her travels since she decided not to bring her laptop or Braille display. SHe’s also been recording sounds throughout her trip for memories. Not being able to see, this is a substitute for photos, though she also made sure to get people to take pictures because even though someone is blind, they may still want photos to show others.

Kerry’s trip began with a 9-day all women’s tour in Southern Ireland through CIE Tours, organized by Anita Paton, a travel agent Kerry has become good friends with since 2017. While she was traveling solo, this was the perfect opportunity because it allowed her to balance her independence while still being in a group with someone she knows well. Kerry talks about how others on the tour got to learn from her perspective which spurred great conversations. In return, they were able to help her out describing certain things that were more visual. While independence is important, we do depend on each other in a group situation to achieve the best experience for all. Though sometimes it’s also worth staying back from the group if something they’re doing doesn’t seem as accessible which is what Kerry did one afternoon when she came across someone playing the fiddle. An instrument she’s been learning the past few years, this gave her the chance to strike up a conversation with someone new. She talks about dancing on the spot to the music with her cane, the tool she uses to get around Ireland, providing her the power of independence.

Kerry then talks about the second part of her travels spent with friends who live there. After a few days with her friend Nicole, Kerry meets up with Barry, the guest who joins us on the second half of the program and they travel to Northern Ireland where he lives. Kerry is speaking with us from Barry’s living room, chilling with his guide dog Oyster. We talk about how grocery shopping seems to be more accessible there where delivery is more common and cheaper. Kerry mentions how medication boxes there have Braille on them, something we’ve never come across here in Canada. You even get to learn a couple phrases in Irish including “Pog Mo Thoin”.