Fionn details life through a lens

THE Tour de Munster is a four-day, 600km cycle in support of Down Syndrome Ireland, which will make its way through the province from August 8-11 and a young Clare man is making a video to thank all those taking part.

Seventeen-year-old Fionn Crombie Angus has Down Syndrome and his video will show people who have the condition doing things they enjoy most.

“It’s about people with Down Syndrome and what they like doing,” Fionn noted.

“I came up with the idea because I wanted to show it to the people on the Tour de Munster. I thought it’d be good to show them what people with Down Syndrome enjoy.”
For his part, Fionn likes cycling, photography and wildlife and has regularly gone to see the White Tailed Sea Eagles near his home in East Clare.

Dad Jonathan was delighted with Fionn’s proposal. “He came up with this idea of interviewing people with Down Syndrome. I said ‘what would you want to ask them?’ and he came out with this brilliant question, ‘what do you love about your life?’ Rather than just have people give a verbal answer, we wanted to show them engaging with something that they love to do. That way we are including people who may not have speech and aren’t able to answer verbally but can still show something about their lives.”

Jonathan said Fionn became interested in recording images through his fascination with the natural world. “The thing that first awoke his interest in both video and photography is study of nature. He’s a mad one for going out birdwatching and things like that, so we’ve been thrilled that the White Tailed Eagle chicks have been here in Mountshannon where we live. He’ll just hop on his bike and ride down to the harbour every other day, just to see the birds.”

Fionn is still in school and hopes to go onto third level. “He intends to go onto college after he finishes secondary school. We’ve already visited Trinity, NUI Galway and Mary Immaculate College, all of which have programmes for people with intellectual challenges.”

Jonathan says the money raised through the cycle will be greatly appreciated. “I’m the secretary of Down Syndrome County Clare and we use the money for the Latch On Programme, which is for young adults literacy, computer skills and life skills. Its also for swimming lessons and general social events, it’s really wonderful.”

He says Down Syndrome Ireland is a good source of support and information for those who have a family member with the condition. “It’s really a family support agency more than anything. It’s about information sharing and building the community and helping people to get on with their lives when they have a family member with Down Syndrome.

“When we first heard our son had Down Syndrome it was a bit of a shock and an adjustment but ever since getting to know Fionn, we’ve been so happy to have this person in our lives.”

This is the 13th year of the Tour de Munster and 120 amateur cyclists will cycle over 600km around the province.
Participants collect individual sponsorship and the Tour is accompanied by volunteers who hope to leverage the event with collections in the cities, towns and villages along the route. Everyone participating in the event covers their own costs so all funds raised with go directly to the six branches of Down Syndrome Ireland in Munster.

The first day will take cyclists from Cork City into Waterford for a climb at the Vee and through Tipperary and Limerick to Killaloe. Fionn will lead the cyclists through the last bit into the Banner County.
On the second day they will go to Tralee and on day three, they will negotiate the Conor Pass and Molls Gap. Day four will start with a climb over the Caha Pass before finishing back in Cork City.