Westport Festival launches ChildVision’s ‘BlindFold Challenge’
The official charity partner of this year’s Westport Festival of Music and Food is ChildVision, the National Education Centre for Blind Children. ChildVision will be at the Westport Festival of Music and Food in Westport House on Saturday, June 29 and Sunday, June 30, to give music fans the chance to experience the buzz of the festival blindfolded, putting themselves in the shoes of someone who is visually impaired during the ChildVision Blindfold Challenge.
Festival-goers who participate in the ChildVision Blindfold Challenge, will have to wear a blindfold and be guided around the music and food festival by a sighted partner. Each pair will be taught how to guide each other so they find out first-hand what is like to be visually impaired or blind. Chief Executive at ChildVision, Brian Allen said: “Music and food are two of the most sensory pleasing experiences possible, we are challenging festival goers to experience the weekend - or part of it - without their sense of sight. Our children are faced with this challenge every day of their lives. By wearing the blindfold and asking a friend to be their ‘sighted guide’ we hope people will be reminded how much they value their sight and in turn support ChildVision and the work we do for blind children in Ireland.”
Festival goers who take the ChildVision Blindfold Challenge will get the opportunity to win a place at ‘The Chef’s Table’ in the Food and Wine Village and experience food prepared by Ireland’s top chefs including Derry Clarke – L’Ecrivain, Ross Lewis – Chapter One, Dylan McGrath – Fade Street Social, Richard Corrigan – Corrigans, Kevin Dundon – Dunbrody House and Oliver Dunne – Bon Appetit.
The Food and Wine Village, hosted by TV and Radio presenter Norah Casey, who is also publisher of Food and Wine Magazine, will bring together some of Ireland’s finest celebrity, Michelin Star chefs and restaurateurs for a series of culinary demonstrations. Ireland’s leading chefs, will also team up with some of the most talented, up and coming commis chefs from catering colleges around the country including the Galway Mayo Institute of Technology.
