Public ‘walk their socks off’ for Down Syndrome
Members of the Byrne family took part in the 'Walk Your Socks Off' event in aid of Down Syndrome Carlow in Rathwood, Tullow Photos: Michael O'Rourke Photography 2026
THE Carlow branch of Down Syndrome Ireland donned crazy socks last Sunday morning, 22 March, for the annual Walk Your Socks Off fundraiser.
The event in Rathwood, Tullow attracted over 150 people, members of the organisation and the public. There was “nobody that walked by that didn’t throw in a few euro for raffle tickets,” said committee member Olivia Flanagan.
It was such a positive morning,” she said. “The weather held out for us and all the members got an ice cream afterwards.” Minister of state Jennifer Murnane O’Connor and mayor of Carlow MD Paul Doogue attended the event that has become an important date on the Carlow calendar.
The fundraiser is “huge for the organisation because we don’t get government funding for our branch. If we want to support our children with speech and language therapy, we have to fundraise ourselves. We subsidise what parents pay and we give a respite voucher to each family every year,” said Olivia.
The walk to mark world Down Syndrome day is “crucial” for the organisation, she said. “It’s something to look forward to, a chance for the organisation to get together, have a nice time and being outdoors is lovely.” She thanked all the committee members, as “without them, nothing would be happening” and Rathwood for facilitating the event each year.
“Our members love it; they're really social beings and it was a great day out for everyone. My son was in his element, he loves socialising,” said Olivia. She explained that wearing mismatched crazy socks represents the extra chromosomes that people with Down Syndrome have. Chromosomes under the microscope, apparently, look like socks.
