News

Irish Legends Golf raffle Winner

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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.

Rock Your Socks 4 DSILMB

by

The World Down Syndrome Day #RockYourSocks #LotsOfSocks4DSI 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. 
World Down Syndrome Day is Tuesday 21st March and we in Down Syndrome Ireland Louth Meath Branch invite you to “Rock Your Socks 4 DSILMB”.

Our campaign

On World Down Syndrome Day 2023, we call for people and organisations around the world to be…

With Us Not For Us

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 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/.

Keep up to date on all that is going on for World Down Syndrome on our World Down Syndrome Page https://dsilmb.ie/more/world-down-syndrome-day/ as we update it between now and WDSD.
#WorldDownSyndromeDay #WithUsNotForUs#LotsOfSocks4DSI

WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY COFFEE MORNING

by

☕INVITATION☕
☕WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY COFFEE MORNING☕
We are organising a World Down Syndrome Day Coffee Morning and get-together to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day.
When: Saturday 25th March 2023
Time: 11 AM – 1:30 PM
Theme: Rock your Socks
All you need to do is choose some socks that are going to get noticed – they might be mismatched socks or your craziest and most colourful socks, whatever takes your fancy!
Where: Conyngham Arms Hotel Slane
The Brickx Club will attend, for all budding engineers, young and old.(All LEGO Bricks sanitised before use)☕☕

COME ALONG AND CELEBRATE WDSD

ROCK YOUR SOCKS

DRINK COFFEE

MEET UP

Sibling support – Sibshop Workshop

by

Saturday 25th February 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.

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#SibShopIrelandSibshop Ireland@sibshopirelandDown Syndrome Ireland@downsyndromeireland