Gary O'Donoghue

And I'm Gary O'Donoghue. Normally you hear me reporting from Washington. This week I'm on the Happy Pod with my own story of perseverance.

And I'm Gary O'Donoghue. Normally you hear me reporting from Washington. This week I'm on the Happy Pod with my own story of perseverance.

And I'm Gary O'Donoghue. Normally you hear me reporting from Washington. This week I'm on the Happy Pod with my own story of perseverance.

You know, when I started out in this business, it was a pretty tough thing for disabled people. I was told by head of journalism, that a blind person couldn't be a reporter, simply couldn't do it. Not on. And that has been a difficult journey. And I want to say just this one last thing.

You know, when I started out in this business, it was a pretty tough thing for disabled people. I was told by head of journalism, that a blind person couldn't be a reporter, simply couldn't do it. Not on. And that has been a difficult journey. And I want to say just this one last thing.

You know, when I started out in this business, it was a pretty tough thing for disabled people. I was told by head of journalism, that a blind person couldn't be a reporter, simply couldn't do it. Not on. And that has been a difficult journey. And I want to say just this one last thing.

All those parents out there with disabled children, all those disabled students at journalism schools up and down the country, it can be done. Even when the naysayers, and they still exist, are around, it can be done. Don't let them stand in the way. Never take no for an answer. Thank you to the judges. Thank you to the RTS. This is fantastic. Thank you very much.

All those parents out there with disabled children, all those disabled students at journalism schools up and down the country, it can be done. Even when the naysayers, and they still exist, are around, it can be done. Don't let them stand in the way. Never take no for an answer. Thank you to the judges. Thank you to the RTS. This is fantastic. Thank you very much.

All those parents out there with disabled children, all those disabled students at journalism schools up and down the country, it can be done. Even when the naysayers, and they still exist, are around, it can be done. Don't let them stand in the way. Never take no for an answer. Thank you to the judges. Thank you to the RTS. This is fantastic. Thank you very much.

We all know there's a bit of luck in these sorts of things and you've got to take that moment and make sure that you maximise it. My heart was absolutely thudding, I've got to tell you, all night in my chest. We were on air for five or six hours and I think that interview was shared 300 million times. And so you kind of know you're having an impact when the numbers look like that.

We all know there's a bit of luck in these sorts of things and you've got to take that moment and make sure that you maximise it. My heart was absolutely thudding, I've got to tell you, all night in my chest. We were on air for five or six hours and I think that interview was shared 300 million times. And so you kind of know you're having an impact when the numbers look like that.

We all know there's a bit of luck in these sorts of things and you've got to take that moment and make sure that you maximise it. My heart was absolutely thudding, I've got to tell you, all night in my chest. We were on air for five or six hours and I think that interview was shared 300 million times. And so you kind of know you're having an impact when the numbers look like that.

I think the other thing I was very glad about, and this was just a consequence of it, is that Getting an accurate account out of what had sort of happened, reporting those facts quickly, sounds very grand, I know, but I do think we helped the way the country processed that at the time.

I think the other thing I was very glad about, and this was just a consequence of it, is that Getting an accurate account out of what had sort of happened, reporting those facts quickly, sounds very grand, I know, but I do think we helped the way the country processed that at the time.

I think the other thing I was very glad about, and this was just a consequence of it, is that Getting an accurate account out of what had sort of happened, reporting those facts quickly, sounds very grand, I know, but I do think we helped the way the country processed that at the time.

Yeah, I think so. I mean, look, most of the time my blindness I regard as an inconvenience. Frantically trying to keep up reading stuff, you know, processing information. That all takes a little bit of extra time and a little bit of extra effort and a little bit of extra help. But there are also times, I think, when as a blind person, for whatever reasons, you're a bit less threatening.

Yeah, I think so. I mean, look, most of the time my blindness I regard as an inconvenience. Frantically trying to keep up reading stuff, you know, processing information. That all takes a little bit of extra time and a little bit of extra effort and a little bit of extra help. But there are also times, I think, when as a blind person, for whatever reasons, you're a bit less threatening.

Yeah, I think so. I mean, look, most of the time my blindness I regard as an inconvenience. Frantically trying to keep up reading stuff, you know, processing information. That all takes a little bit of extra time and a little bit of extra effort and a little bit of extra help. But there are also times, I think, when as a blind person, for whatever reasons, you're a bit less threatening.

It means sometimes you get more of a hearing when you're talking to quote-unquote ordinary people. Now, even in most developed countries, can I say, 70% of blind people of working age are out of work. They don't have a job. So I'm one of the very, very lucky ones, which I remind myself of each morning when I get up.

It means sometimes you get more of a hearing when you're talking to quote-unquote ordinary people. Now, even in most developed countries, can I say, 70% of blind people of working age are out of work. They don't have a job. So I'm one of the very, very lucky ones, which I remind myself of each morning when I get up.