Elderly Limerick man has 'faith in humanity' renewed after support from volunteer

A LIMERICK-based volunteer with the National Council for the Blind (NCBI) has been praised for the support he has given to an elderly county Limerick man who lost his sight in his early sixties.

William Priestley was paired with Tony Geary from Doon a number of years ago after he approached the NCBI asking them if they had openings for volunteers in the field of technology.

“Tony was trying to get to grips with technology so for the first few months it was a question of trial and error as we worked it out. We’d meet regularly in the NCBI offices in Limerick city and spend an hour going through the essentials that Tony needed. We got on well and so the whole experience of learning was easy then for Tony,” said the 38-year-old William, who runs the West End Youth Centre Ballinacurra Weston.

Seven years later, William still meets Tony regularly.

“Technology is evolving so rapidly, there is always something to update Tony on,” he said. 

Tony, a former chef, says William is a “marvellous and constant support” to him.

“He has taken away my fear of technology and now I look forward to surfing the net and being able to get information on things I need,” he said.

“He would really renew your faith in humanity. He is giving up his time and his knowledge for free and it is priceless to me,” he added.