Name: Cormac Leonard
Address: Drogheda, Co Louth
E-Mail: cormac.leonard@protonmail.com
Nationality: Irish
SKILLS
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I am fluent in Irish Sign Language (ISL) and English, and am a trained and accredited ISL / English interpreter. I have basic British Sign Language (BSL), Irish, French and some Spanish.
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I have worked in educational (all levels from Diploma / Degree to Masters / PhD level), medical, conference, television / stage, legal and workplace interpreting.
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I have gained a wide range of research and information collation / processing / presentation skills through a variety of different positions and environments.
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I have plentiful experience of project and general administration.
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I possess extensive computer literacy, skills and knowledge through both career and personal use over many years.
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I am adaptable and quick to learn.
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I possess varied people skills, work well in teams, and can work reliably on my own initiative.
THIRD LEVEL EDUCATION
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2003-2005: Diploma in Irish Sign Language / English Interpreting, Centre for Deaf Studies, Trinity College Dublin. Achieved Distinction (80%)
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1997-1999: MA in Communications and Cultural Studies, Dublin City University. Achieved 2:1
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1994-1997: BA in History and Linguistics, University College Dublin. Achieved 2:1
CAREER EXPERIENCE
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Sign Language Interpreter (Freelance) July 2005 – date
Worked through Irish Sign Link / SLIS / Bridge interpreting agencies as well as freelance
Description:
Facilitated communication between ISL (Irish Sign Language) users / clients and hearing clients in a variety of settings – educational, one-on-one meetings, staff meetings, training courses, public meetings etc. I work through two interpreting agencies. I am an Active Member of Irish professional interpreter body CISLI (Council of Irish Sign Language Interpreters) and follow the 2011 CISLI Code of Ethics. I have been accredited R1 level through the 2006 Irish Sign Link accreditation process. I have been based in Cork City since August of 2009.
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Interpreter Consultant, Sign Language Interpreter Service (SLIS) Summer of 2008
Hainault House, The Square, Tallaght, Dublin 24
Description:
Researched and compiled a Service Pack for State funded interpreting service SLIS. This package consisted of Terms and Conditions, Health and
Safety Policy, a Code of Professional Conduct, and many other aspects of relations between interpreter, client and agency. I also functioned as a point of information for receptionist staff and management in relation to interpreting, best practise, ethics and professionalism etc. I piloted a booking service in ISL using the networking software ooVoo and was also available for face-to-face contact with Deaf visitors to the SLIS office.
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Centre for Deaf Studies, Trinity College Dublin
40 Lower Drumcondra Road, Dublin 9
Position: Coordinator, Interpreting Placement Module Oct 2007 – May 2008; Oct 2008 – June 2009
Description:
Planned, lectured and co-ordinated the practical work placement aspect of the Diploma in ISL / English Interpreting. Aspects covered include ethical dilemmas, health and safety, and reflective practice. The role also included liaising with interpreters individually, interpreting agencies and Deaf-related organisations to ensure smooth delivery of placement experience for students, mentors, clients and agencies alike.
Position: Researcher, Signs of Ireland Project August 2005 – April 2007
Description:
Part-time researcher on Irish Sign Language corpus project, aiming to transcribe body of 40 video clips of Irish Sign Language along
detailed and agreed parameters, for the purposes of linguistic analysis of ISL. As well as transcription, I have also been a technical administrator on the project, converting clips to digital file formats, preparation and implementation of parameters of ELAN transcription software, and preparation of DVD resources from the data.
30 Blessington Street, Dublin 7
Position: Information Officer / Administrator / Consultant, May 2002 – June 2004
Duties:
Responsible for the Society’s information base. General running of operations within the Society, liasing between Board of Directors and staff / Society members, preparation of funding proposals. I was responsible for several successful funding applications to various Government departments in this period, which have resulted in major new projects being established within the Society. Preparation of funding proposals, composition and proof-reading of official documents, etc. Some communication support work, both face-to-face and via telephone, working between Irish Sign Language (ISL) and English.
Mind the Gap Films, 22A Fortescue Lane, Rathmines, Dublin 6
Position: Researcher Sept 2000–Feb 2001, Aug 2001–Feb 2002
Duties:
Generation of and developing programme item ideas for ‘Hands On’, RTE’s programme for the Deaf community as well as organisation of studio discussions, interviews, information-style pieces, etc. Programme items vary from light entertainment-style pieces of interest to Deaf people, to news items relating to Deaf issues and audience debates discussing Deaf politics and culture.
OTHER INFORMATION
Interests / Hobbies:
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My interests include reading, music, politics and current affairs, deaf culture / sign language, the Internet, astronomy and genealogy. I love to travel, and spent the summer of 1996 working in the United States.
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I am keen to learn new languages such as Spanish, German, Japanese and British Sign Language.
Achievements:
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Associate Member of Irish Translators and Interpreters Association. Was Secretary of IASLI in 2006-7 and was also editor of the IASLI Newsletter.
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Have attended many courses and training sessions, including
- How to Work with Deaf Interpreters (Teresa Lynch & Frankie Berry), Limerick Deaf Community Centre, October 2016
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Liturgical and Religious Signs Workshop (National Chaplaincy for Deaf People), Dublin Deaf Club, March 2010
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Legal Interpreting workshop (Centre for Sign Language Studies Galway), Dublin, Dec 2009
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Medical Interpreting Workshop (Deaf Communications), Dublin, May 2009
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Working with Deaf Interpreters workshop (Steve Walker, SLIS / Gallaudet University), Dublin, April 2008
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The Measure of a Successful Interpretation (Centre for Sign Language Studies Galway), Galway, Dec 2005
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Have attended many interpreting conferences, including
World Association of Sign Language Interpreters conference, Segovia, Spain, July 2007
Watch your Language! – one day conference for BSL interpreters, City Lit University, London, April 2009
Supporting Deaf People online conference, Jan 2010
ASLIA 2010 National Congress, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, August 2010
Chairperson of the DCU Sign Language Society in 1998-9, a group that held beginners’ ISL classes.
References available upon request