News

Fun with Numbers

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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

Sibling support – Sibshop Workshop

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We have organised a Sibling Support Workshop for our Branch. 

Saturday 2nd September 2023 in Drogheda Presbyterian Church from 2.00 – 4.30 pm.  

The Workshops are carried out by Liz Fitzpatrick & Linda Foley, both Nurses working with children with an Intellectual disability. They are qualified Sibshop Facilitators and run Sibshop workshops which are afternoons of fun for siblings of children with special needs. Please see attached leaflet.

As well as having lots of fun it provides a great opportunity for siblings to get together and chat about some of the difficulties and the positives of having a sibling with Special Needs.

The workshops are for our member’s Siblings aged between 7 & 13 and the members with Down Syndrome should be over 2.5 years old so that the Siblings can see and understand that their brother or sister has special needs.

These Sibshops are free to our members.

Please reply to secretarydslm@gmail.com or text Brendan at 083 8972044 to register your intention to attend.

Place on each workshop is limited to 12 and places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

“SIBSHOP WORKSHOPS (duration 2.5 hours)

Sibshops are fun workshops for siblings of children with special needs. We run them on weekend afternoons or during school holidays. They are lively, with games and discussions. We also prepare a snack and/ or make pizzas with the children.

As well as having lots of fun it provides a great opportunity for siblings to get together and chat about some of the difficulties and the positives of having a sibling with special needs.

The workshops are aimed at children aged between 8-12 years with a maximum of 12 children in the group recommended as we find this works best in order to give all the children a chance to contribute to the discussions and games. Their sibling with special needs should be over 2 and a half years old so that they can see and understand that their brother or sister has special needs.”

Invitation to Family Fun Day & BBQ

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Where: Newgrange Farm

When: Sunday 3rd September 2023

Down Syndrome Louth/Meath Branch is holding a Family Fun Day & BBQ in Newgrange Farm, Slane, on Sunday the 3rd Sept.

BBQ grill will be cooking from 1 pm-3 pm approx. BBQ is free and is paid for by the Louth/Meath Branch.

The cost of entry for adults & children to the farm is €8 for our members (Carer Free), rest of the family €10 each.

Book online at newgrangefarm.com – in the special needs section on the bookings portal or tickets can be purchased at the gate.

All Members Welcome

Irish Legends Golf raffle Winner

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Under the watchful eyes of Poppy Stephenson and Mike Egan, Karl Bourke draws the winning ticket in the DSI Louth Meath Irish Legends Golf raffle.

 
Congratulations to the delighted winner Thinus Jordaan from Dundalk, and originally South Africa. Thinus is an enthusiastic golfer and husband of our great Down Syndrome sports/athletics supporter Sanet Jordaan so a well-deserved winner indeed!!  


A big Thank You to our prize sponsors; Seapoint Golf Club, Co. Louth Golf Club and the d Hotel(who hosted the draw), to everyone who bought or helped sell tickets and to ForeFront Golf and the Irish Legends hosts Des Smyth and Roddy Carr for their amazing support over the weekend. Much appreciated!!! 👏

Funding Scheme for 2023

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The members of the Down Syndrome Ireland Louth Meath Branch have agreed at the Branch AGM held on 26th April 2023, to provide a funding scheme for branch members to help cover the cost of therapies, and sports / recreational activities in 2023 that will be of benefit to our members with Down syndrome.

Details of the Funding Scheme can be found on our Website 

https://dsilmb.ie/more/funding-scheme/

Application

Members should submit completed application forms, accompanied by receipts and relevant supporting details as per the Terms & Conditions to the Branch Administrator Brendan Stephenson before the end of January 2024 for therapies/activities that took place the previous year (eg. activities/therapies that took place in 2023, the application should be made between 1st January. – 31st January 2024.) 

The Treasurer (who is a volunteer) will endeavour to process applications before the end of February. (Applications submitted after 31st January will be processed the following year)

Please send applications to:

Down Syndrome Ireland Louth Meath Branch
9 Ashdale,
Wheaton Hall,
Drogheda,
Co. Louth
A92 KDK8

Summer Aquafit Bootcamp

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Our first Aquafit of the Summer is Wednesday 12th July, at Aura Trim Leisure Centre from 2 to 2:45 pm.

This Camp will be facilitated by Eleanor Murray, Aura Trim Employee and Branch Member, and another Aura Trim Staff Member.

We have organised an AQUA Boot Camp in association with Aura Trim Leisure Centre.

Great Music And Great Moves in the pool.

Where: Aura Trim Leisure Centre

When: Wednesday 12th July

Time: 2 PM

Aged 13 up (Have to be able to stand independently in the water, in the Shallow End and follow instructions . There will be a lifeguard but no assistant in the water)

Contact Cara 0857105437

Minimum of 6 participants and a Maximum of 15. Places will be filled on a first-come-first served basis.

Parent and Toddler Group

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The Louth/Meath Branch of Down Syndrome Ireland manages an “Parent & Toddler Group” for preschool children (aged from 5 months to 6 years) with Down syndrome in the counties of Louth and Meath.

The group is open to children with Down Syndrome aged 5 months to school-going age.

When:   Thursday Mornings (fortnightly)

Time:     10 to 11:30 am

Where:   Duleek Bellewstown & District Community Facility (Navan Rd, Balsaran, Duleek, A92 F2HN, CO. Meath)

The group is run fortnightly and is facilitated by Louise Tully.Below are some of the different activities that Louise will aim to deliver:

  • Lots of Lámh – Louise will be providing each parent who is interested in learning Lámh signs with specific signs for each session.
  • Language activities – Louise will be introducing See and Learn sounds and vocabulary activities for each child and work with them on which level they need to start with and work on their individual levels.
  • Messy play – Louise will have a targeted messy play activity for each session with lots of opportunities for the kids to experiment and play with lots of different textures.
  • Music and song – Louise will have a structured nursery rhyme to work on each session, with signs included as well as providing lots of opportunities for music and songs.
  • Gross and fine motor – Louise will be working on setting up some areas for tabletop activities like puzzles, ring stackers and pink pig etc.

Each session costs €5  to be paid directly into our Bank AccountAIB Grafton Street
Sort Code 93 10 47
A/c 49363006
SWIFT BIC: AIBKIE2D
IBAN: IE33 AIBK 9310 4749 3630 06
Account Name: Down Syndrome Louth MeathPlease include your name and label it Toddler Group.

To register your interest, please email Brendan Stephenson; at secretarydslm@gmail.com or phone/text Brendan at 083 8972044.

2023 Irish Legends at Seapoint Golf Links

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From: Thursday, 22 June 2023 To: Sunday, 25 June 2023

Where: Seapoint Golf Links’ Termonfeckin, Drogheda, Co Louth

We are delighted to be chosen as the designated charity for this Irish Golf Legends Tour event.

Seapoint Golf Links host the third largest event on the Legends Tour, from 22nd – 25th June 2023.

Hosted by local legend Des Smyth and fellow European Tour veteran Roddy Carr, greats of the game will descend on the links to take on the challenge.

The Legends Tour, formerly the European Senior Tour, is the official tour for players over 50. Part of the PGA European Tour alongside the DP World Tour and European Challenge Tour, it offers the chance for amateurs and celebrities to play alongside the professionals in a live tournament.

#IrishLegends | @failteireland_intmedia | @sportireland | @seapointgolflinks

Pound the Pavements

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Down Syndrome Ireland Louth Meath Branch in association with Indaver and LMFM our holding our annual Fundraising Event, Pound the Pavements to raise vital funds for the Branch.

Pound the Pavements in association with Indaver and LMFM runs from 1st- 21st June 2023 and the funds raised will go directly towards our vital education programmes provided to our members in the Louth Meath Branch of Down Syndrome Ireland, including our early intervention and adult education programmes.

What are we doing?

We are asking friends, family and members of the local communities across Louth and Meath to join us in our virtual summer event – Pound the Pavements – to help raise much needed funds for DSI’s Louth Meath Branch.

On Sunday 18th June, join us at Wilkinstown Community Centre (Eircode : C15 V123), where you start or finish off your 2023 “Pound the Pavements” by using the purpose built walking trail, 1 loop of it is 1.5km. Or if you have a few more km to go to reach your 21km, there’s the beautiful greenway from Wilkinstown to Navan just beside the centre. Wilkinstown Community Centre offers plenty of parking, buggy and wheelchair friendly trails and a playground for our smaller members. We are also arranging some refreshments. So come join us at 2pm on Sunday 18th June to start or finish your “Pound the Pavements” 2023 event, receive a goody bag and meet up with other members.

When is this happening?

Over 21 days from 1st – 21st (inclusive) June 2023.  With a meet up event on June 18th in Wilkinstown Community Centre.

Who can take part?

We are inviting all family, friends – at home and overseas – as well as members of our local communities across Louth and Meath to take part in this virtual event.

Dress up in purple and green and help us create a sea of walkers and runners across every town, village and road in Louth and Meath to Pound the Pavements over 21 km for the local Louth Meath Branch.

How can you take part?

This is a virtual event. Walk or run – you decide. The activity and pace for this event is entirely up to you. The goal is simply to have fun and reach 21km over 21 days. How you do it is up to you!!

How to Register?

Register for the event here https://dsilmb.ie/poundthepavements/ and then you will be redirected to our iDonate page to ‘purchase’ your tickets by donating the registration amount.

Why 21km over 3 weeks?

Typically, a baby is born with 46 chromosomes. Babies with Down syndrome have an extra copy of one of these chromosomes, chromosome 21, hence the 21km.  Babies with Down Syndrome are born with 3 copies of chromosome 21 (rather than the usual two), hence the 3 weeks/ 21 days!

Cost of the event? – Pay on iDonate

€10 for an individual

€20 for a family

Join us on our virtual challenge social media groups, connect with fellow participants, share your photos and stories on how you are progressing.