To mark the 365th daily swim in Lough Mask by some local swimmers there will be a swim in Sandy Bay.

This is a fundraising event with all proceeds going to Down Syndrome Ireland, Galway Branch and your support is much appreciated.

Donations can be made on the day or on the idonate page

Refreshments will be served in Petersburg after the swim

Other swimmers are welcome to take part but everyone participating, does so at their own risk.

Voices for Down Syndrome Galway (Voices) is a dedicated Speech and Language Therapy project within the Galway Branch of Down Syndrome Ireland.  

The Galway Branch of Down Syndrome Ireland has 300 members, with 100 of availing and benefiting from ongoing speech and language therapy with Voices at any given time: 80 members from age 3+ (children, teens, adults), with a further 20 (babies, toddlers) benefiting through early communication group Little Owls. 

Voices currently employ 2 full-time and 2 part-time Speech and Language Therapists and run clinics in 4 locations throughout Galway (Claregalway, Moycullen and 2 city centre locations). 

Our founding clinic is based in NUIG where our therapists work in collaboration with the colleges Speech & Language Therapy Dept, giving students in training valuable clinical experience with our Speech Therapists in a clinic setting in exchange for use of therapy clinics and research opportunities.

Ongoing Government restraints on delivering an adequate speech therapy service for people with Down syndrome and more recently the impact of Covid-19 on disability support and services has resulted in demands on our charity is greater than ever.  Since the commencement of the Covid-19 pandemic speech therapy appointments have been carried out by teletherapy, this has enabled us to continue to provide essential speech and language therapy during these challenging times, with a recent gradual return to clinic-based sessions.

The cost of providing speech and language therapy is now running at €150k per year, representing a cost of approx. €1500 per child attending Voices. The project receives no government funding and must independently fundraise in the region of €150k annually to sustain this essential service for its members.

Contact: Carmel Hannon, Project Coordinator, Voices for Down Syndrome Galway, [email protected] 087 6448277