Mrs Houston, who works as a librarian was diagnosed in her early 20s with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a condition which affects one in 3,000 people.

Rather than feeling defeated by her diagnosis, Annmarie turned her energies to assisting other people who were blind or partially sighted.

She threw herself enthusiastically into volunteer work with the RNIB charity which supports people with the condition. Annmarie spent three years representing local visually impaired people on RNIB UK and one year on RNIB’S Board in London, before being appointed project officer for an RNIB project based in Derry.

Speaking at the reception, Sinn Fein Councillor Jarlath McNulty said: “I feel honoured to be in the presence of such a positive, dynamic lady who has positively embraced her visual impairment and channelled all her energies into making a real difference to the lives of people with a visual impairment.”

Annmarie was also honoured earlier in the year at the Derry Journal’s North West People of the Year awards for her commitment to the blind and partially sighted.