Sign of a bright future as Adrian qualifies to teach art to deaf students

A DEAF man yesterday had a dream come true at the School of Art and Design.

And he celebrated with a special hug for the woman who literally signed him through years of study at the Limerick Institute of Technology art campus in Clare Street.

Adrian Rynne, from Inch, Ennis, was presented with his Higher Diploma which will enable him pursue his ambition to teach fine art to deaf students.

Two years ago, he qualified with a BA through an amazing student-tutor relationship with Limerick mother-of-four Dymphna Hehir. Adrian 26, was introduced to Dymphna at the adult education college run by Limerick VEC in Sexton street.

For years they sat side by side in class as Dymphna relayed lectures in sign language to Adrian.

Dymphna, 53, who lives at Fr Russell Road, Dooradoyle, took a degree course in psychology and counselling and then studied sign language in order to work with deaf people.

Adrian got his primary school education at the Mid West School for the Deaf in Rosbrien.

With sign language through Dymphna, he recalled: “Meeting Dymphna changed my life and opened up a whole new world to me through studying art and design at LIT. I loved every day at college. It was hard work to begin with but with Dymphna’s help, I got to love it and the experience of college broadened everything for me and brought me into a whole new world.”

During his years of study, Dymphna sat with Adrian in class and accompanied him around the college campus.

She said: “Even in the canteen he would get me to let him know the chat and banter. I got to know him like my own son and he has been a regular visitor to our home where he has become great friends with my sons and daughter.”

As Dymphna helped Adrian through college, two of her sons and her daughter were going to college also. One of her son’s, Shane, was conferred with a doctorate at the University of Limerick.

She said: “It was hard going at times. During the four-year course I would accompany Adrian for up to 33 hours a week. He is dependent on sign language as he does not lip read.”

After yesterday’s graduation, Adrian and his widowed mother, Annmarie, and his brother, James, and sister, Sinead, went for a celebration meal with Dymphna.

Dymphna said: “I continue to teach sign language and today marks the final chapter in a great story of determination and courage by a wonderful young man and his fantastic mother and family.”