Art graduate Adrian looks to the future

Things are looking good that Inch man Adrian Rynne, who was born deaf, will have an amazing career ahead of him after graduating from the Limerick School of Art and Design recently. The 26-year-old told The Clare Champion, with sign language through his proud mother Anne-Marie, “I have come a step closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming an art teacher for deaf children.”

Adrian studied at Limerick Senior College before attending LSAD, where he has just received a higher diploma. He had previously qualified with a BA in fine art from the art college.
Adrian said, “It was hard work but I loved being in college.”
Adrian’s love of art goes right back to his childhood, when he regularly won prizes in the Texaco Art competition. “I always wanted to study art and I was thrilled when I got into the Limerick School of Art and Design. Art allows me to express myself,” he added.
“There wasn’t very much support available until I got to the senior college and then LSAD. They were brilliant.” His mother echoed those sentiments, saying, “They couldn’t do enough, the access officer would say to us if there is anything we need, just to get in touch.”
While Adrian loved the college experience, he admitted, “At first I found education very difficult because being born deaf meant everything was new to me.”
As well as his delighted family, cheering him along at the graduation ceremony was Dymphna Hehir, the sign language tutor who translated lectures into sign language for him. With the help of Dymphna, Adrian has now qualified to teach fine art. “She was brilliant. She kind of had a bond with him and took to him like a son,” Anne-Marie said.
“He was very good at studying, he’d be up till all hours. There are absolutely no limits to what he can do,” she added. Adrian said he loves teaching, having done his teaching practise in Dublin as part of the course. “I’d love to be able to teach others art, it’s my dream,” he said.
Now, he is hoping to share his talent with young deaf people who would like to follow in his footsteps and create their very own masterpieces.