Allow me to introduce myself, I am Finbar Barry, and I have the privilege of being the proud father of Thomas.

Thomas was born with Downs Syndrome as well as a host of other serious illnesses ie, Perthes Disease, Hirschsprung Disease, Heart Murmur, Under-active Thyroid, Hiatus Hernia, stomach Re-flux. Thomas was the youngest person in Ireland to have a total hip replacement. As a child he was always sick and spent many months each year in hospital for various illnesses. When he reached the age of about 14 years old he was constantly telling me he was going to get himself a job and to make a lunch for him. I suppose he got the idea of going to work from watching his older brothers and myself going out to work, so he thought he would do the same. His Mother and I would humor him each time he brought up the subject by saying ‘O yes Thomas you will get a job maybe next year’.

In reality Thomas could never hold down a regular type of job due to his intellectual and physical disabilities, but this had no effect on his creative desire to express his inner self. Those who know Thomas know when he makes up his mind about something he is very determined to see it through.