Galway teen tells how he met his hero – a Saw Doctor on his doorstep!

They say you should never meet your heroes – but one brave Galway lad would beg to differ…because he has become a firm from of his hero, who also happens to live a couple of miles from his family home.

Oisin Feehilly is described by his mother Deridre as ‘a fantastic, funny 13-year-old boy, who is blind’ – but his Braille skills allow him to live a very full life.

“Oisin is a great character, he has brightened up our world and the world of everyone else he has met in all walks of life. A determined fella that lets nothing get in his way. He always finds a way around obstacles,” says Deirdre.

He’s from Barnaderg, six miles outside Tuam – and home to the Saw Doctors. Which is where his hero, Leo Moran, comes into the picture.

“On regular occasions you would meet Leo walking the streets of Tuam. Leo is a pure gentleman and if we bumped into him, he was always interested in how Oisin was getting on,” reveals Deirdre.

One Saturday in September 2021, Oisin met Leo in Tuam. He asked if he could get a photo taken with him, and Leo was only too delighted.

And, says his mum, Oisin sent Leo the photo along with a letter he wrote on his BrailleSense Polaris – inviting Leo to his school in Barnaderg.

“Leo wrote back to Oisin sending him his most recent signed CD and said he would only love to visit his school. The visit was arranged by Oisin, Leo and the class teacher,” she says.

Read how they got on – and how they stay in touch – in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now. Or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie. You can also download our Connacht Tribune App from Apple’s App Store or get the Android Version from Google Play.