Donegal Down Syndrome

29/10/2026

Best of luck, Anna! 🇮🇪

Everyone at Down Syndrome Ireland Donegal is wishing our member Anna Hennesey all the very best as she sets off for Portugal today to represent Ireland at the World Down Syndrome Swimming Championships 2026.

We are so proud of you, Anna, and all the hard work and dedication that has brought you to this amazing opportunity.

Enjoy every moment, swim your heart out and know that we’re all behind you!

Go Anna! 🇮🇪

21/10/2026

Lily is on the home straight!

Our Donegal Branch Purple Run Ambassador Miss Lily Pyper has put an incredible amount of work into this challenge throughout October and is now down to her final few kilometres.

Lily has shown brilliant determination from the very start, getting out, putting in the kilometres and keeping going week after week. This video gives a little look back at just how much effort she has put into her Purple Run journey so far.

She is so close now, and we would love to see plenty of support behind her as she finishes off the challenge.

To complete the Purple Run, we’ll be coming together as a branch for the final 1km together:

Wednesday 28th October
12:00pm
Letterkenny Town Park

Everyone is welcome to come along and join us for the final kilometre, whether you took part in the Purple Run yourself or simply want to come out and support Lily and the rest of Team Donegal.

Refreshments and treats will follow afterwards in the Down Syndrome Ireland office.

If you would like to support Lily and Team Donegal, you can donate here:

https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/downsyndromeirelanddonegal1

100% of every donation made through Team Donegal comes back to the Donegal Branch of Down Syndrome Ireland.

19/10/2026

08/10/2026

Lily is continuing her Purple Run Challenge and is up to 15km this week!! She met up with some friends at her weekly Zara Holmes drama class who cheered herself and Sarah on in their continued efforts. Also she did a km with Shaun McCosker at the community centre in the rain. 🥳Thankyou for all sponsorship and support 💕
You can donate to DS Donegal on the following link: https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/downsyndromeirelanddonegal1?fbclid=Iwb21leAU07GNjbGNrBTTsXGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHBkb2YFc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEehMk_hk_G5tucDFh7K7epwD1D9cG0M-vnUzF4pTT1DN9RQBIqA7c3bAox1O4_aem_16mduHLk5veBoCDJypo0MA

30/09/2026

THE DOWN SYNDROME IRELAND PURPLE RUN STARTS TOMORROW!

And first up for Team Donegal is our very own Purple Run Ambassador, Miss Lily Pyper.

Lily is helping us kick off the month as our members and their families take on the 42km Purple Run challenge throughout October.

We’ll be sharing photos, videos and progress from our members along the way as part of one Team Donegal.

42km. 31 days. One Team Donegal.

Every donation makes a difference 100% of every donation made to Team Donegal comes directly back to the Donegal Branch of Down Syndrome Ireland.

👉 Support Team Donegal here:
https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/downsyndromeirelanddonegal1

23/09/2026

A very special thank you to Louise and the Roddy family

Last week, we were delighted to welcome Louise and her family to Donegal Down Syndrome Association for the presentation of the €15,075 raised through her Mizen to Malin cycle.

Louise took on the 661 kilometre challenge in memory of her brother Ronan, a much loved member of our Donegal Down Syndrome community. Ronan was known for his big smile, great sense of fun and the warmth he showed to everyone around him. He brought so much to our community and is very much missed.

Louise completed the cycle alongside her friends and teammates from Finn Wheelers, who supported her throughout the five days on the road.

A special thank you also to Louise’s mum and dad, Phil and Pauline , and the whole Roddy family for all their support along the way.

The €15,075 raised will help us continue providing supports, activities and opportunities for our members and their families across Donegal.

It was lovely to have the Roddy family present the cheque to members of our community, with Ronan very much in our thoughts on the day.

Thank you, Louise, Phil, Pauline, the Roddy family, Finn Wheelers and everyone who donated, shared and supported the challenge. We really appreciate it

23/09/2026

Back again this Friday

It’s confidental shredding time once again on Friday 25th September at the Letterkenny Shopping Centre in association with United Shredding Company and the Letterkenny Rotary Club and all for just a donation, to the Donegal Down Syndrome Association.You will see your confidential documents shredded in the USL machine.

As usual the USL unit will be situated on right hand side of the car park near the entrance, from 10.30am until 12 midday.
Members of the Rotary Club will be on standby to assist members of the public if needed. Letterkenny Rotary greatly appreciate your continued support of this very worthwhile project

21/09/2026

Donegal is getting behind this year’s Down Syndrome Ireland Purple Run.

Taking place throughout October, the Purple Run is a national Down Syndrome Ireland fundraiser encouraging people to walk, jog or run 42km over the 31 days of the month.

And it’s open to everyone.

We’d love to see schools, sports clubs, community groups, workplaces, local businesses, families and individuals from across Donegal getting involved either on your own or as part of a team.

You can complete the 42km at your own pace throughout October, making it an easy challenge to take on with friends, colleagues, classmates or teammates.

Most importantly, if you register through the official Purple Run website and select Donegal Branch,

100% of the funds you raise will come directly back to Down Syndrome Ireland Donegal Branch.

That means by taking part, you can support the national Purple Run while also helping to raise vital funds for people with Down syndrome and their families here in Donegal.

Everyone who officially registers will receive:
🟣 An exclusive Purple Run running top
🟣 A calendar to track their progress
🟣 Access to the Purple Run community page

We’d love to see a strong Donegal presence throughout October, so if your school, club, workplace, business or group is looking for a challenge to get behind, we’d be delighted to have you taking part.

👉 Register https://downsyndrome.ie/purple-run/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22441888050&gbraid=0AAAAArD0DFQO7pnAZeLK8-18vDkkDiFa_&gclid=CjwKCAjwq8PVBhAKEiwA2i3SHYE9OauSi-SOuSWck0_jDPiTa9DoTbZkwUDWlvdLQU1azDyPkaUVrBoC_jgQAvD_BwE

21/09/2026

What a brilliant day for our members and families!

On Saturday we enjoyed the first of our activities with Deele Community Anglers through the PEACEPLUS programme, and what a great way to get things started!

It was fantastic to see so many of our members and families come along, get outdoors, explore the natural environment and, most importantly, enjoy the experience together.

There was plenty to discover around Mongorry Trout Fishery, lots of learning and exploring along the way, and of course the BBQ went down very well too!

A huge thank you to Deele Community Anglers for inviting Donegal Down Syndrome to be part of this programme and for the amount of work and thought that went into making Saturday such an enjoyable and inclusive experience for our families.

Thank you also to FROG CIC and everyone involved in facilitating the activities and making our members and families feel so welcome.

This was only the first of a number of activities planned through the programme, and we're really looking forward to what's to come.

And finally, a big thank you to all of our members and families who came along and supported the day. It was lovely to see such a great turnout and so many smiling faces!

We’re looking forward to the next one!

14/09/2026

https://glenswillygaa.fundmajor.com/sponsoring/61
We have something very special to share!

Maria Neely, along with her Uncle Ryan, will be taking to the dance floor for the Glenswilly GAA Jive Off, and Maria has very kindly chosen to support Donegal Down Syndrome through her fundraising. Ryan is one of our members, which makes this all the more special for us.

We are incredibly grateful to Maria for thinking of Donegal Down Syndrome. To show such kindness, compassion and selflessness at such a young age really is something special.

Maria and Ryan now have plenty of practising ahead of them as they get ready to take to the floor on Friday 23rd October at the Silver Tassie Hotel. We hope our members, families, friends and supporters will get behind them and show them plenty of support along the way.

If you would like to support Maria & Ryan, you can sponsor them by clicking the link below

A huge thank you to Maria for choosing to support Donegal Down Syndrome, and the very best of luck to both of them as they get those jiving shoes ready

Glenswilly GAA