Irish hearing health company, Blackberry Hearing has come to the aid of a deaf couple from Portarlington in Co. Laois by offering them free hearing devices after their story was shared on World Hearing Day (3rd of March) by the national charity for the deaf, Chime.
James Reardon and Ruth McSkane, a working couple from Laois with three young children, say they feel they are being penalised for working and moving away from Disability Allowance, and faced a €10,000 bill to replace essential hearing aids.
The couple have three small children aged 3, 2 and 9 months. Ruth works in The Holy Family School for the Deaf in Cabra as a Special Needs Assistant (SNA) while James is a healthcare assistant working for the Mental Health Services in Dublin.
Mr. Reardon and Ms. McSkane, are above the income threshold for a medical card and were struggling to raise the €10,000 required every five to seven years to replace both of their hearing devices. James said, “I have been using Ruth’s old hearing devices as she works in a school for the deaf and can sign with the children but without hearing devices, we are essentially both isolated from our community. We can’t talk with our neighbours we can’t talk to our children.”
When Blackberry Hearing learned of the couple’s circumstance, they were shocked and wanted to help. Matthew Gleeson, Managing Director of Blackberry Hearing said, “we were compelled to help, it is most unfair that a working couple who they themselves help other people and play an integral role in our community are not supported. We brought them to our Portlaoise clinic where our audiologist, Claire Bolger assessed their hearing with a view to finding an appropriate solution to assist their communication.”
Mr. Gleeson said that World Hearing Day presents an important opportunity to encourage people to take their hearing health seriously. He noted that the theme this year focuses on paediatric care, at a time when approximately 12,000 children are on waiting lists for hearing checks with the HSE. Blackberry Hearing provides assessments for both adults and children, and Gleeson emphasised that hearing health is important for everyone and can affect people at any stage of life. He added that the company’s highly skilled audiologists use cutting-edge technology to assess hearing with precision and care, ensuring every patient receives a solution tailored to their needs and lifestyle.
Blackberry Hearing continues to invest in leading global hearing technology, including Widex, Signia and Philips devices. The Irish owned and run company is distinguished by its focus on superior technology, competitive pricing and outstanding customer care.
The business has experienced rapid expansion in recent years, supported by investment from Abbey International Finance, and is positioned for continued growth. Blackberry Hearing currently employs 50 people nationwide and plans to recruit an additional 15 staff members by the end of 2026. It operates 60 outlets across Ireland, including seven dedicated stores, and recent acquisitions such as Donegal Hearing in Moville and Access Hearing in Dún Laoghaire have further strengthened its national footprint, with additional acquisitions under negotiation.
With a decade of proven excellence, Blackberry Hearing remains committed to innovation, community engagement and improving quality of life for people experiencing hearing loss across Ireland. For more information, visit www.blackberryhearing.com
