Dozens of members of the Waterford and South Kilkenny branch of Down Syndrome Ireland turned out at the Sweep Bar in Kilmeaden for their annual coffee morning and raffle.

Seamus and Michelle Dunphy, The Sweep Bar and Darragh Quinlan.

It comes ahead of tomorrow’s World Down Syndrome Day.

Chair of the Waterford and South Kilkenny DSI, Nicola Aylward, says the theme for this year is inclusivity.

“It’s to celebrate people with Down Syndrome,” she says. “the 21st of March is a global awareness day and a chance for all of us to advocate on behalf of people with Down Syndrome.

Nicola says they run an active branch in Waterford and South Kilkenny with over 160 members.

DSI members enjoying the fundraiser in The Sweep Bar.

“Our branch is celebrating it’s 40th anniversary this year,” she says, “so we’re going to be marking that through the events we run throughout the year.”

The local branch has been hailed as a lifeline for those with Down Syndrome, as well as parents and families.

Waterford man Lloyd Cummins says “you couldn’t actually put a value” on the work done by the organisation, and the support they’ve provided to he, his wife Ashley and their young son Bradley.

“There’s a great community here,” he says, “everyone keeps in contact and their able to bounce questions off each other. For some people their just entering into the fray and finding out things for the first time.”

Karen and Wayne Pepper.

“Nobody knows better than someone who has it,” says Karen Pepper, mother to 18-year-old Wayne who has Down Syndrome.

“You make some amazing friends through the branch and my son has made some amazing friends through the branch.”

“Mornings like this bring people together.”