Two years ago I remigrated from Berlin with three months severance and no work lined up. Ciaran Taylor offered to hire me to film some of the upcoming Sightless Cinema shows, ten years after I first reported on, then helped sound engineer some of their first productions.

On the 6th August, 11.15PM on RTE1 the resulting film screens for the first time. It tells the story of some of the inspiring and delightful blind people who came together to form the Sightless Cinema network; how they lost their sight and found themselves through radio drama. Members of the group candidly discuss their sight loss and how their lives have been shaped by blindness. We watch their creative process in action. As Sightless Cinema turn their lived experiences of blindness into compelling audio theatre.

This is my first TV broadcast credit as Director / DOP and it wouldn’t have been possible without Ciaran’s trust and efforts, the lovely Johnny Farrelly’s guidance and above all the kindness and trust of the wonderful people of sightless cinema.

I’d especially like to thank the incredible Steve Wickham (yes that Steve Wickham) who created the films soundtrack, with the exception of one track by the mighty Derek Byrne.

CREDITS

Directed and shot by Gareth Stack.

‘Blind Panic’ and ‘In the Dark’ created by Ciarán Taylor
with Sightless Cinema members

Sightless Cinema

Created by Ciarán Taylor
and Rachel Ní Chuinn

Music

Original Soundtrack music composed and performed by Steve Wickham

‘Triumphant Tennis Tribulations’ by Derek Byrne

‘Three Little Birds’

Written by Bob Marley & The Wailers
Publisher Universal Music

‘One More Cup of Coffee’

Written by Bob Dylan
Publisher Special Rider music

Blind Perception Video Clips by Barry O’Donnell

Camera Assistant (Lavin’s Interview) Gavin Lawless

Lighting – Felipe Jóia

Live sound – Reuben Cummins, Bryan Quinn, Terence Reynolds

Graphic Design – Nicole O’Connor

Meath Sound – Terence Reynolds

Additional Music Meath – Alan Carmody

Laois Sound – Reuben Cummins

Tallaght Sound & Additional Mixing

Bryan Fleming – CONTACT studio

Stills Photography – Felipe Jóia and Ann Marie Kelly

Sightless Cinema Laois

Sean Byrne
Deirdre Honan
Trish Hyland
Ger McHugh
Noreen McInerney
Aran Murphy
Marian Murray
Val Plunkett
Kathleen Sweeney

Sightless Cinema Meath

Trevor Barry
Glenda Browne
Ann Flynn
Oisín McCaul Proudfoot
Seán O’Boyle
Desmond Olahan
Gillian Stafford
Moira White

Associate Artist: Amy Flood

Sightless Cinema Tallaght

Denis Fahy
Chris Fullard
Martin Kelly
Bernie Kenny
Michael Lavin
Theresa Lavin
Sinead McDonagh
John O’Brien
Eamonn O’Connor
Barry O’Donnell
Tony Scanlon
Kathleen Dundon

Special Thanks To

Michelle De Forge
Erin Kenny
Donal Sheils
Lisa Murphy
Nicola McHugh
Jean Keirnan
Aaron Mullaniff
Amy Flood
Hugh Hick
Julie Scanlon
Ann Marie Kelly
Sinéad Keogh and the Hardliners
Jessica O’Donnell and Hugh Lane Gallery
Mario Speedwagon
Petey Cruiser
Anna Sthesia
Paul Molive
Anna Mull
Gail Forcewind
Paige Turner
Jonathan Coulston
Naas Lawn Tennis Club
Sailí Áine Ní Mhurchú
Sarah Gannon
Anna Douglas

And all the staff at Dunamaise and Solstice
Arts Centres and The Civic

‘In the Dark’ tour funded by

Rethink Ireland

‘In the Dark’ live music

Dylan Tonge Jones

Sightless Cinema performances made possible by

The Arts Council
The Civic Theatre
The Solstice
Dunamaise Arts Centre
Laoise County Council
Meath County Council Arts Office
South Dublin County Council

Sightless Cinema Network is a
collaboration between South Dublin,
Meath and Laois County Council Arts
Offices, and theatre artist Ciarán Taylor.

In partnership with Solstice Arts
Centre, Dunamaise Arts Centre
and The Civic Theatre, with Vision
Ireland.

Funded by the collaborating
organisations, Creative Ireland
South Dublin and The Arts
Council under the Invitation to
Collaboration Scheme.

Dead Medium Productions & Norea Productions 2025.