Mayo

About Us

The Mayo branch of Down Syndrome Ireland was created in 1976 by parents of children with Down Syndrome to create independence and inclusion of their children. As of May 2021 we have over 135 active members with our office being based in Castlebar.

 

Activities/Events we Offer:

Regularly our office is used by our members for activities, seminars and education.

Over the last year, a sample of the classes that our members took part in include: drama, fitness, personal development course, cooking, swimming, art and movement, cycling, drumming, music sessions for the toddler group.

We offer our members subsidies towards the cost of a wide range of private therapies which can include speech therapy, physical therapy, play therapy, counselling.

Our social events are the summer outing and the Christmas party which caters to all age groups.

The highlight over the last year was the Art and Movement Group who hosted their very own Art Exhibition, an event which was covered by local newspapers and radio stations; leading it to be a huge success. 

Our adult Drama Group also planned and put together a Fashion Show. There was a full house on the night with everybody agreeing that it was an absolutely resounding success. Alongside the Fashion Show, the Drama group also had their very own Drama Production at Christmas which was also packed to capacity.

 

Education and Talks

We provide training for parents/guardians, SNA's and teacher's who work alongside our members. The courses that we offer include: Lamh, Numicon and the See and Learn course. The See and Learn training is carried out by the Early Years Advisor for Down Syndrome Ireland, Olive Buckridge.

For families we have offered seminars such as Bereavement and Loss, Sibling Workshops, See and Learn, Special Olympics and we hope to soon have seminars about Wills and Trusts, Behaviour and Sleeping, Transitioning to Secondary school and lots more. 

 

Classes 

Due to Covid-19 we now run our classes online such as; Art & Movement, Creative Writing & Design, Mindfulness, Yoga for all ages, Speech Sounds, Arts & Crafts Photography, Assertiveness Course for teens and young adults, in collaboration with Blossom Charity based in Dublin, Teen Zoom Rooms with Down Syndrome Sligo and we have some exciting webinars to be announced in the summer. Olive Buckeridge has been a huge support to all of our members online over the last year to our members of all ages ranges providing classes.

 

Groups

We cater for all ages from babies through to adults. The main fundraisers for Down Syndrome Ireland Mayo Branch includes countywide Church gate collection, pub quiz's, mini marathons, bag packing and much much more.

Down Syndrome Ireland Mayo Branch advocate on behalf of and support all of our members. We are also proud of the link we have with the Member Support Team in the Dublin head office, members of whom travel to Mayo on a frequent basis and further aid us in the advocacy and support offered to our members.

 

Contact details: 

Chairperson James Carty -  email: mayochairperson@downsyndrome.ie

Treasurer Stephen Chalke -  email: mayotreasurer@downsyndrome.ie

Secretary Paul Agnew - email: mayoinfo@downsyndrome.ie

Administrator  -  email: mayoinfo@downsyndrome.ie

Phone: 083-3184075 / 0949026703 

 

About Us

The Mayo branch of Down Syndrome Ireland was created in 1976 by parents of children with Down Syndrome to create independence and inclusion of their children. As of May 2021 we have over 135 active members with our office being based in Castlebar.

 

Activities/Events we Offer:

Regularly our office is used by our members for activities, seminars and education.

Over the last year, a sample of the classes that our members took part in include: drama, fitness, personal development course, cooking, swimming, art and movement, cycling, drumming, music sessions for the toddler group.

We offer our members subsidies towards the cost of a wide range of private therapies which can include speech therapy, physical therapy, play therapy, counselling.

Our social events are the summer outing and the Christmas party which caters to all age groups.

The highlight over the last year was the Art and Movement Group who hosted their very own Art Exhibition, an event which was covered by local newspapers and radio stations; leading it to be a huge success. 

Our adult Drama Group also planned and put together a Fashion Show. There was a full house on the night with everybody agreeing that it was an absolutely resounding success. Alongside the Fashion Show, the Drama group also had their very own Drama Production at Christmas which was also packed to capacity.

 

Education and Talks

We provide training for parents/guardians, SNA's and teacher's who work alongside our members. The courses that we offer include: Lamh, Numicon and the See and Learn course. The See and Learn training is carried out by the Early Years Advisor for Down Syndrome Ireland, Olive Buckridge.

For families we have offered seminars such as Bereavement and Loss, Sibling Workshops, See and Learn, Special Olympics and we hope to soon have seminars about Wills and Trusts, Behaviour and Sleeping, Transitioning to Secondary school and lots more. 

 

Classes 

Due to Covid-19 we now run our classes online such as; Art & Movement, Creative Writing & Design, Mindfulness, Yoga for all ages, Speech Sounds, Arts & Crafts Photography, Assertiveness Course for teens and young adults, in collaboration with Blossom Charity based in Dublin, Teen Zoom Rooms with Down Syndrome Sligo and we have some exciting webinars to be announced in the summer. Olive Buckeridge has been a huge support to all of our members online over the last year to our members of all ages ranges providing classes.

 

Groups

We cater for all ages from babies through to adults. The main fundraisers for Down Syndrome Ireland Mayo Branch includes countywide Church gate collection, pub quiz's, mini marathons, bag packing and much much more.

Down Syndrome Ireland Mayo Branch advocate on behalf of and support all of our members. We are also proud of the link we have with the Member Support Team in the Dublin head office, members of whom travel to Mayo on a frequent basis and further aid us in the advocacy and support offered to our members.

 

Contact details: 

Chairperson James Carty -  email: mayochairperson@downsyndrome.ie

Treasurer Stephen Chalke -  email: mayotreasurer@downsyndrome.ie

Secretary Paul Agnew - email: mayoinfo@downsyndrome.ie

Administrator  -  email: mayoinfo@downsyndrome.ie

Phone: 083-3184075 / 0949026703 

 

Local News

New DSI Regional Centre will provide services for the west of Ireland

16 Aug 2019

Down Syndrome Ireland is developing a new regional centre in Swinford Co. Mayo to provide vital services to children and adults with Down syndrome in…

New DSI Regional Centre in the pipeline

11 Feb 2019

The centre in Swinford in Mayo will provide services for the west of Ireland.