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The dog, the bird, the wheelchair user and the blind woman (comedy)

A few weeks ago, during the glorious weather that visited Ireland, I was out the back of my garden sunning myself. You know, working from. I notice a bird flying low that flies straight into one of my upstairs windows before falling to the ground with a thud.

“What was that?” Tina asked. Tina and her fiancé are currently visiting my house, like forever, while their own house is being completed. They both have visual impairments.

“A bird crashed into the window. Ah, no, it’s after walking into the kitchen. We’ll never get it out.”

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Paris coming to the rescue. Paris is a Labrador, and an occasional guide dog when it suits her.

Now, I imagine its honed instincts, which evolved over millennia, turning it into a cold, ruthless killing machine.

Paris went into the kitchen and then came straight back out. There was no sign of any blood. It put its toy bird in its mouth and brought it into the kitchen before exiting again.

“Ah, it brought a friend for the bird,” Tina gushed.

That dog is such a disappointment.

“Okay, Tina, you go in next. Get rid of the bird.”

“Me, shur I can’t see it. You’re the man.”

“Well, I never,” I replied with indignation, “I believe in equality and women in leadership. This is your time to shine.”

There is a bit of back and forth before I convince her to go in. Bad news, I have to follow.

We are all in the kitchen, except for Paris, who is resting. The bird is standing in my bowl of bananas on the counter.

The bird flaps its wings and briefly flies. Tina screeches. She’s worried about it flying into her face. Well, at least it wouldn’t be mine.

“Be brave, Tina, take the sweeping brush and get it to go out.”

The bird flaps again, and Tina threatens to abandon me.

It does another short flight and lands near the back door.

“Okay, Tina, stick out the broom. It’s on the floor.”

She moves towards the bird, and it walks outside before flying away.

I was so brave.

Pegasus (Part 136)

“Let’s go!” I roared.

We ran into the palace, my pulse racing.

Immediately, we ran into fire from the floor above. We took cover behind some of the pillars. I sensed the threat of us getting pinned. This was not something we had time for.

There was a screech of pain. Jeanne had been hit in the leg.

I shouted to the others. “We don’t have time for this. On the count of five, provide cover fire for me and Tabitha. We’ll come back for you once the mission has been completed.”

They nodded, and I began to count. On reaching five, we darted across the large room to the lifts. I pressed the button to go down multiple times.

Tabitha placed her hand on my shoulder. “It’s okay. They can’t target us here.

The lift door opened, and we stepped inside. There was space for many more. I looked into Tabitha eyes. She didn’t blink. A couple of seconds later, the lift opened. We stepped onto the fine carpet that bore images of battles into a wide corridor.

An alarm sounded, and the lights took on a red hue.

Tabitha smiled. “Guess they know we’re here.”

“Apparently,” I replied.

Pegasus (Part 135)

In less than a minute, battered bodies were strewn across the ground. A minute later, they were cuffed and bound with their own equipment.

“Come on, hurry, there will be more of them,” Tabitha frowned.

“Yes, come on, everybody,” I added.

We jogged out from under the pyramid. I could see other troops in the distance but they seemed disinterested in security.

“What the hell is going on?” I said.

Leanne was beside me now. “It’s the Emperor. I got one of the communication devices from one of the troops. He’s critical. If he dies, it sounds like fighting could break out.”

This was the time. We had to take advantage.

Leanne pointed to a megastructure in the distance. “That’s the palace. It’s huge.”

With that, we went into the vegetation and went straight for it.

It glistened with gold, and the main pathway was cut in emerald diamond. The opulence was there on view for everyone to see.

We went right up to the entrance undiscovered and peered out at the tourists and two heavily armed guards.

Tabitha looked at me knowingly, and we raised our acquired guns. The two guards collapsed in a hail of bullets as panicked onlookers ran in every direction.

Pegasus (Part 134)

“Let’s do it,” Leanne shouted. The others all nodded.

This was my moment. I could feel it in my racing heart. “Follow me. The first priority is to try to get some weapons. Otherwise, we’re toast.”

We go back out and along the corridor before we reach a stairwell.

“Come on,” I whisper back to them as I wave. It takes several minutes to get to the bottom.

Leanne, who had gone ahead of me, abruptly stopped. I went in front of her, and glanced around the corner.

There were some of the men in red uniforms who had captured me earlier. In intense conversation, they seemed oblivious to what was happening around them.

I knew we only had one choice. A sneak attack, we needed to get into hand-to-hand combat, before they drew their weapons.

In whispers, I told the others that I would go first. They were to follow in a line behind.

With care, I placed one foot in front of the other till I got within striking distance of the closest soldier. I put my arm around his neck and began to squeeze. Then all pandemonium broke loose as the rest got involved, punching and kicking the soldiers into submission.

Pegasus (Part 133)

Moments later, she sat at the side of the bed, her mouth ajar.

“You were being drugged by a tube inserted into your neck. They did the same to me. I’m sure all the others are the same. Come on, help me with the others. We don’t have much time.”

She nodded in agreement and went to Leanne, while I went to her Mum. Within a few minutes, they were all back standing up and ready for action.

For the first time, I could see steely determination in their eyes,

Leanne was the first to speak. “What now?”

I knew she wasn’t talking about escaping. They were all looking in my direction.

“The Emperor has taken ill. Now is the time for us to strike. If we run, it is only a matter of time before we are all captured once more. We keep to my original plan. Except we’re all in it now.”

“And what is that?” was murmured from the rear.

I replied with gusto, trying to keep their spirits up. “A nuclear blast inside the Emperor’s chamber can blow the whole habitat. That is what I have been trying to achieve since Tabitha and I left the dinosaur habitat. And we are now so close to achieving our objective.”

Pegasus (Part 132)

But which way to go? I tried to remember my time with the Emperor for any little hint. Then I remembered that he had looked in a particular direction when he had mentioned my friends. I thought back to where my bed was positioned at the time. I needed to go to my left.

Without hesitation, I quickly walked in that direction. The next door was over twenty meters away. There was a circular red button to the left, which I pressed. The door opened to reveal a darkened room. I stepped inside, careful not to make any noise. I could make out that several people were lying in what looked like hospital beds.

I searched the wall for a light switch and pressed it. The glare briefly closed my eyes. I reopened them to see Tabitha and the rest of the crew lying in the beds, shouting for my help.

Tabitha was closest.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

Tears were flowing down the side of her face as her eyes darted from place to place. “I can’t move, love.”

I guessed what the problem was and lifted her head with care, searching for a tube, which I pulled out.

“What are you doing, love?”

I rubbed the side of her face with my palm. “Give it a minute.”

Speech at Disability and Older Persons Event 2025

Ladies and gentlemen, it is great to be here with you on this beautiful day. Independent People with Disabilities have long been associated with this wonderful event.  It is great to see so many familiar faces, and I hope you all enjoy the day. This is an excellent opportunity for you to learn more about what services are available to you.

Independent People with Disabilities has had another busy year since our last day here, continuing to try and improve the lives of people with disabilities.  We took part in a Regional Networking Event in Cavan, Make Way Day in both Mullingar and Athlone, and hosted an Event about Disability and Employment in Athlone. The Disability and Employment event made me the most proud. It detailed the supports available for people with disabilities and their employer. I think it highlighted serious issues and gave out vital information.

The organization maintains a strong local presence through active participation in a variety of committees such as Westmeath Public Participation Network, Disability Sub group of Westmeath Community Development, Westmeath Youth Forum and Westmeath Older People’s forum.

 On the national stage, we have a representative on the Board of Iarnrod Eireann, and regularly engage with in discussions with the Department of Social Protection.

Our office is also an invaluable resource providing information on disability related issues, addressing questions, concerns, and making a positive impact on countless lives.

All of this would not be possible without a dedicated Board, and I wish to thank my fellow directors such as Dermot Hope, Larry Quain, Gene and Noel Mulvihill among many more. I would also like to thank our funders, especially you the ordinary people who give at our collections.

Thank you and enjoy the rest of the day.

Speech at 25-year celebration of Westmeath CIL

Well, readers, this post is slightly different from usual. This is a speech I gave last night at the 25-year celebration for Westmeath CIL for anyone who may have an interest –

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my pleasure to be here with you for this celebration of Westmeath CIL tonight. I am sure I already know a good number of you here. The first time I heard about the organization was when it was in its infancy. It was based on a revolutionary concept at the time, and it brought me joy to know Westmeath would not be left behind – that people with disabilities should be able to chart their futures, whether it is deciding what education to pursue, where to live, and with whom, and the ability to socialize. It is a concept as critical today as all those years ago. 

The role of Westmeath CIL in my life greatly increased a few months after I completed college with my first Personal Assistant from the service, Patricia Gorman, who ended up doing many years with me.


Her work had a great effect on my life straight away. It increased my independence and gave me a solid basis for planning my future. We got along very well, and I occasionally ring her now,  many years after she stopped working. 

Of course, there were times when she was unwell or on leave, and people like Linda McKinley and Grainne Nea, among others, would step into the breech. Throughout those years, Mary Mooney was there for me to contact if I had difficulties. 

During those years, I first worked in the Mullingar Arts Centre and then joined Westmeath County Council as a Clerical Officer. I still remember my excitement on my first day, not thinking I’d still be there nearly twenty-three years later. 

I now live in my house most days of the week thanks to Westmeath CIL. This involved a large increase in my hours, which were done by Thomas McCormack at the start. In my career, I am currently the Resource Worker with the Westmeath Public Partnership Network. A challenging role that makes use of everything that I’ve learned to date. Hopefully, I’ll still go up the ladder a bit more. Chief Executive has a nice ring to it. 

I know that there are challenges, but this would not have been possible without the independent living movement. Currently, I have three PAs from Westmeath CIL. Gerry Marie, Dermot Smith, and Kathleen Carr. Peter Bradley also fulfills the role from time to time. Westmeath CIL continues to play a vital role in my life, and I hope that it continues to make a huge impact, not only in my life but in the lives of all people with disabilities in the region.

Pegasus (Part 131)

A few moments later, I realized that full movement had been restored to my body. I immediately sat up and removed the tubes from my left hand. I looked back at where my head had been resting. There was a small needle piercing through the pillow. Standing up, I saw it had been connected to an intravenous drip with a cloudy blue substance.

It came loose when they pushed the bed. This is my opportunity.

I looked around the spacious room that had been my prison.

Flexing my legs, I was confident of my full strength. I noticed my clothes on the hanger in the corner and put them on.

Walking towards the door, it automatically flew open, leading me to a fluorescent tunnel. My eyes winced in the light. In front of me was an expansive view of the habitat. I was near the top of one of the pyramids.

How am I going to save Tabitha and the others?

I tried to think back to what the Emperor had said, and remembered him stating I’d have to make some sort of decision. It was a hunch, but they must be close. He wanted me to physically see them.

But I must be quick in case he recovers.

Pegasus (Part 130)

Then the Emperor continued. “That is why I need you. You are the only one of my progeny to show the guile required to leave one’s comfort zone and try to effect change. It was something that I thought would be ubiquitous, but I was wrong.

The Empire faces many challenges. If I die without a successor, there will be war, and everything I have built will be ruined. All I ask is that you kill your comrades to show your loyalty. I don’t think that is too much to ask.”

For a moment, I wondered if he was serious. His seething eyes told me he was.

“Never!” I responded angrily.

He gasped and took a step. “Are you my blood at all?”

He placed his hands on his chest. Then fell to his knees, before tumbling to the floor.

A loud siren went off, and the whole room started flashing red. Within thirty seconds, the room was full of men in white overcoats, all huddled around the emperor. My bed was pushed over to a side wall, and I could no longer see what was happening.

Then I could hear them carrying him away, and the room was silent once more.