Rock Your Socks 4 DSILMB

As we enter March, World Down Syndrome Day is just around the corner on the 21st. We are asking people to get involved to raise awareness and some vital funds for our Branch.

World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), 21 March, is a global awareness day which has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012.

The date for WDSD being the 21st day of the 3rd month, was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome.

We encourage communities, schools, clubs, companies and individuals to choose their own activities and events to celebrate WDSD and to help raise awareness of this very special celebration. We are inviting your communities, schools, clubs, companies and individuals to take part in this fun event by asking you to wear brightly coloured socks or odd socks on Thursday 21st of March and donate €2 to #RockYourSocks and our branch.

The World Down Syndrome Day #RockYourSocks campaign exists to raise awareness of Down syndrome. All you need to do is choose some socks that are going to get noticed. Get your friends, classmates and colleagues to join in too.

Our campaign;

End The Stereotypes. Stereotypes are harmful!

For people with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities, stereotypes can stop us from being treated like other people. We get treated like children, we are underestimated and we are excluded. Sometimes we are treated very badly or even abused.

We want you to wear the loudest socks you can find, and wear them with pride to support people with Down Syndrome.

If you are a business, you and your colleagues, managers or even customers could get involved with a bucket collection on the counter or in the office. If you are a school, you could hold a Rock Your Socks Day with every teacher and student getting involved.

Do whatever you like to raise awareness and funds for the Down Syndrome Ireland Louth Meath Branch. Your donations can be accepted at https://www.idonate.ie/event/rockyoursocks4dsilmb or on our Donate page on our website https://dsilmb.ie/donate/.

#WorldDownSyndromeDay#WDSD2024#EndTheStereotypes#DSI#downsyndromeireland#ShareTheJourney#dsilmb

Time for Tea for WDSD

🎉🌟 Let’s Celebrate World Down Syndrome Day in Style! 🌟🎉


Hey Everyone!


Mark your calendars because something truly special is happening on Monday, March 18th, 2024! 📅✨


🗓 Date: Monday 18th of March
🕰 Time: 2 PM to 4 PM
🏠 Venue: Wilkinstown Community Centre, Balsaw, Wilkinstown, Navan, Co Meath, C15 V123


Join us at the Wilkinstown Community Centre as we come together to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day with an event filled with love, laughter, and joy! 🥳❤️


🍰🍵 Time for Tea for World Down Syndrome Day! ☕🧁
Get ready for a delightful spread of Tea, Coffee, cupcakes, biscuits, sandwiches, and yummy treats for the kiddos! 🍰🍪 And that’s just the beginning of the fun!


Here’s a sneak peek of what we have in store:


🧩 Lego with the Bricks Club: Dive into creativity with Sarah Jane and build some fantastic creations!
💪 Fun with Fitness demonstration with Kelly & Paul: Get moving, grooving, and having a blast with Kelly & Paul!
🎉 Celebration Screen of Our Members: Let’s shine a spotlight on the incredible individuals who make our community so special!
🎥 Special World Down Syndrome Day Video: Prepare to be inspired by our artistic swimmers as we celebrate their talents and achievements!
📚 Usborne Books Stand: Explore the magic of reading with captivating stories and engaging books! The Books are available to purchase and 60% of profits will go to our branch.
It’s going to be a day filled with smiles, laughter, and beautiful moments shared with amazing people. 🌟✨


Let’s make this World Down Syndrome Day one to remember! 🌈💖


See you there!

WorldDownSyndromeDay #WDSD2024 #EndTheStereotypes #DSI #downsyndromeireland #ShareTheJourney #dsilmb

WDSD Coffee Morning

🌟 Let’s Celebrate World Down Syndrome Day Together! 🌟

Hey everyone! 🎉 Mark your calendars because something wonderful is happening at Connell & Co, Menswear & Household! 🎈 We’re thrilled to announce that they are hosting a special Coffee Morning in honour of World Down Syndrome Day! 🌍💙

🗓 Save the Date: Saturday, March 23rd

🕚Time: 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

📍 Location: Connell & Co, Menswear & Household, 5 Church St, Dundalk, Co Louth

Join us for a morning filled with smiles, laughter, and delicious coffee as we come together to support Down Syndrome Ireland Louth Meath Branch! ☕️❤️

It’s an opportunity to celebrate diversity, spread awareness, and most importantly, show our love and support for our friends and family members with Down syndrome. 🌟

We can’t wait to see you there! Bring along your friends, family, and neighbours for a heartwarming time. Let’s make this World Down Syndrome Day one to remember! 🎊 Together, we can make a difference. See you soon! 💖

#WorldDownSyndromeDay#CommunityLove#SpreadAwareness#RockYourSocks#ShareTheJourney#DownSyndrome#DSI#downsyndromeireland#dsilmb#DSILMB🌈

Connell & Co@connelldundalk

Eleanor’s 30th birthday

🎉🌟Thank You 🌟🎉

🎉🌟 It was a celebration to remember! 🌟🎉

A huge THANK YOU is in order to Eleanor Murray, her incredible mum Liz, and the entire Murray Family for making Eleanor’s 30th birthday bash at the Ardboyne Hotel Navan on the 17th of February an unforgettable event! 🎈💫

But it wasn’t just any birthday party – it was a heartfelt fundraiser benefiting Down Syndrome Ireland Louth Meath Branch! 🌟 Your generosity knows no bounds, and your dedication to supporting such a meaningful cause is truly inspiring. You raised a fantastic total of €5,565.00 for the Branch. The Cheques were presented to 🌈💖

With your unwavering support, we’re thrilled to announce that funds raised will go directly towards providing underwater speakers for the Artistic Swimming Team and contributing to the Regional Advisory Committee. 🏊‍♀️🔊 Your kindness will make waves and empower so many individuals in our community! 🌊✨

Eleanor, Liz, and the Murray Family Thank you for your generosity, your spirit, and your unwavering support of Down Syndrome Ireland Louth Meath Branch! 🌟💕

Photographed accepting the cheque on behalf of the branch are Allyson Maher, Eleanor Murray, Fintan Bray, Michelle Whelehan, Mike Egan, Marie Bray, Liz Murray and Monica Maher. 🌟💕

#ShareTheJourney#downsyndromeireland#DSI#dsilmb#DSILouthMeathBranch#DownSyndrome#DSILMB#ArdboyneHotelNavan#thankyou🌟

Down Syndrome Futsal squad receives international caps

“Trailblazers, you will always have that. As the first ever players with Down Syndrome to play Futsal internationally.

I am sure you are very proud, there is very few people actually in the world that actually go on and played for their country. In any type of sport and any type of football or Futsal. Amazing achievement.

We as an association is very proud of you.” Marc Canham, FAI Director of football on presenting the team with their international caps.

Ireland’s first national Down Syndrome Futsal team was presented with their international caps ahead of the friendly Ireland vs New Zealand game at Aviva stadium on Tuesday 21st November.

Football or All’s Paddy O’Reilly, Head coach Paul Smyth and Marc Canham met with the team and their parents.

“The awarding of a cap to an international player dates back to the 1870s and remains a symbolic gesture, as well as a prized keepsake. Therefore it was important to ensure that all players who featured for Ireland at senior level were eligible to receive this one-off cap that represents their involvement with the team.” In this instance, these caps were hard earned as Ireland’s first international Down Syndrome Futsal team travelled to Padua, Italy, in early September to participate in the Sport Union for Athletes with Down Syndrome (SUDS) European Championships.

The team had a jam-packed week, playing 5 games in 4 days. Turkey, Italy and Portugal have been playing for at least 4 years in different international tournaments and had to stand their ground against the newcomers.

Being first-time competitors did not leave the Irish team at a disadvantage reckoned Máire Hourigan, mom of Futsal player Cian Kelleher from Cork: “Our athletes demonstrated belief and strong heart and operated in a fun-loving way throughout the week. I am so proud of all of them and loved the cohesive way the teams bonded, dressed in their similar attire. Memories were created, experiences were made, and our athletes led the way in style in how they handled themselves, one another, and their opponents. Truly phenomenal ambassadors. Onwards and upwards. There are no limits!”.

A number of the players selected for the squad had previous involvement in Football For All, and were very quick to adapt their skills to Futsal. This event also provided the players with the opportunity to test their skills against other players with Down Syndrome from the other nations involved.

Creating a player pathway for players with Down syndrome in Ireland from grassroots all the way through to International Level, would be the next natural step. By getting more players with Down Syndrome playing Futsal (the International game is Futsal) on a regular basis will mean that the future is bright and more players can aspire to represent their country at future events.

Paul Smyth, Head coach, were delighted by the team’s performance “The players and families made huge sacrifices all through the year in preparation for the SUDS European Championships. This enabled the team to match more established countries with outstanding performances throughout the tournament.

On behalf of the coaching team, Brendan Corish, Sean Mulligan and myself, we would like to acknowledge the support of the families and supporters who got behind the team and made it such a special experience. It made us all proud to be Irish.  

We would also like to recognise the endeavours of those pioneers who worked tirelessly on this project, the Down Syndrome Louth and Meath Branch and the unbelievable support of the communities and businesses.

It was a pleasure to be involved with this historic group of players.”

Christmas Jumper Day Appeal

We are organising a Christmas Jumper Appeal to raise funds to help us support children and adults with Down syndrome throughout Louth & Meath.

All you have to do is choose a day in December where you and your family, friends, classmates and/or work colleagues wear your most Christmassy jumpers and DONATE whatever you can.

Donate here https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/XmasJumperforDSILouthMeath

Your support is very much appreciated and we would love to see your Christmas Jumpers, so please share your photos with us using #ChristmasJumperDay4DSILMB

Thank you!

Children’s Christmas Party

Children’s Christmas Party (for 0 – 13ish-year-olds)

Down Syndrome Ireland – Louth/Meath Branch are delighted to announce that the Children’s Christmas Party will take place this year in the spectacular Trim Castle Hotel

Sunday 3rd December from 2 PM – 5 PM.

Parents are asked to please arrive early to drop in their presents for their other children.

Santa will visit the party and present a gift to each of our children with Down Syndrome, sponsored by the Branch. As it is a lovely family event, we would impress upon you the importance of bringing gifts for your other children who will attend the party. Clearly mark each name and age on the gift wrap and present it to one of the organisers on the day. We do not want any child to be without a present from Santa!!

Please note there will be light refreshments served and entertainment provided on the day.

RSVP: Text Brendan Stephenson at 083 8972044 or email secretarydslm@gmail.com with the following details:

NAME OF CHILD WITH DOWN SYNDROME

AGE OF CHILD

NO. OF SIBLINGS ATTENDING

NO. OF ADULTS ATTENDING

THE FINAL DATE FOR REPLYING IS Wednesday 29th of November 2022.

Branch Membership Renewals for 2024 will be accepted on the day. Christmas Cards will also be on sale on the day.

Note: Presents will only be given to Children who attend the party.

Adult / Teens Christmas Party

Christmas Party for Teenagers/AdultsDown Syndrome Ireland – Louth/Meath Branch are delighted to announce that the Christmas Party for Teenagers/Adults will take place this year with a Disco, and finger food on

Friday 1st December from 7.30 PM till late

Balreask Bar & Restaurant Navan.

The theme of the night is “Jingle Bells Rock”

Wear your most Christmasy Jumper/Tops/Hats. The more Christmasy the better

A great night guaranteed

If attending, please text Eleanor Cosgrove at 087 6671393 with the name of the teenager/ adult with Down Syndrome and the number of siblings/other adults attending.

The final date for replying is Saturday 25th November.

Branch Membership Renewals for 2024 will be accepted on the night.

Christmas Cards will also be on sale on the night.

@downsyndromeireland Down Syndrome Ireland

#dsilmb #downsyndromeireland #ShareTheJourney #DSILMB

#ChristmasParty

Fun with Numbers

Our Fun with Numbers is resuming with our younger group back next Monday the 11th of September and then the older group is back on Thursday the 14th of September.

Fun with Numbers is a fun way of working with numbers through games and creative learning aids. It is a light-hearted way of learning basic number skills like counting, adding, and subtraction, incorporating concepts of division and multiplication.

Fun with Numbers presents opportunities for using life skills like following a recipe using measurements and time, along with planning journeys and using money.

We run “Fun with Numbers“ Sessions each week.  There are 2 sessions per week on Mondays and Thursdays.

We have set up the following age groupings however if your child’s age falls outside these categories we will still try to accommodate.

Junior Group Ages   8-11 – 4 pm Mondays
Senior Group Ages 12 and up – 
 5.30 pm Thursdays

The thought is that Deirdre will target older children on a Thursday and younger children on a Monday, however, all children are welcome to participate in either or both sessions each week if you think the content is suitable.


Down Syndrome Louth Meath will cover the cost of the sessions, so there will be no cost to parents for these sessions. The Sessions will run during the school terms as long as there is interest.

The students will need some materials ahead of the sessions, but Deirdre will let you know ahead of time what will be needed – it will all be inexpensive stuff that you may already have or can recycle around the house or will be able to get in the likes of Dealz. Deirdre will also send links for printable materials, should any member not have access to a printer please contact us immediately when Deirdre posts the links to printables and we can arrange to have them posted to you.

We have set up a WhatsApp group for each age group so that Deirdre can fill you in on what materials are needed and send you the Zoom ID and password.  Deirdre posts a video each week explaining the materials required.

We will need the following details:

Child Name:

Parents name and telephone number for WhatsApp Group:


Child’s age:

Email Address:

If you have any questions or would like to take part please contact us at secretarydslm@gmail.com