This is Abigail Curtin - O´Connell. She is a very sociable girl and has Down Syndrome. She has multiple heart defects and has had many operations to fix them. She is getting by with only one half of her heart working properly but is doing very well and is a very happy and healthy looking little girl.

Abigail likes mixing with people and taking care of babies and anyone who looks like they might be in need of a hug. She loves music dancing and swimming but her favourite thing in the world is her iPad which she uses to browse all her favourite videos on youtube.

Abigail goes to school in Scoil Eannna which is part of the cope foundation. She loves school and can't wait to get on the school bus every morning.

Her main challenges at the moment are developing her independence skills, feeding, speaking, dressing and the like but she is progressing well with all of these.

A letter from Abby

Hi everyone.. Thank you all for reading this. My friend Art is cycling the tour the munster this year and again I'm going to be his number 1 supporter and cheerleader.. Hopefully I'll be there on the final day to meet him again on the top of the hill. Since the last cycle I have grown up so much and so many changes have happened in our home. I am now in second year school on at paul's school montonette, though this year with the covid has been very tough I missed so much school and I miss my friends terribly. I was always a very social young girl but now find people a bit scary and I have got very shy.. I still love my friends and family so much and my brothers who mind me so well are always there to help with anything I need done. I also got a pet kitten sox to keep me company during lockdown.. And he is so funny I love him. I am after getting really tall and am turning into a wonderful young lady so mam says, I have just got a lovely new teenage bedroom, and am getting a phone for my birthday in May.. I will be 15..... Unfortunately this year my health has changed I got a new wheelchair as I cannot walk too far now, I get tired quick, however it is very cool as I use a skateboard with it sometimes, also I have got little weaker and am now in heart failure, hopefully my new meds will keep me good for long time, I have oxygen by night too which I really don't like but am getting more tolerable.. I'm looking forward to holidays this year whoever we may get to. Once there is a pool or beach near I'll love it. Thank you all please support down Syndrome Ireland, donate please to my friend web and help me and my friends benifit from all the resources we have missed out on since covid.. Thank you so much Love abigail Curtin O ´Connell. Xx

I am delighted she and her family are allowing me to ride the Tour de Munster for her.

On Thursday August 5th, i will embark on a 640km journey through all the counties of Munster that will last five days culminating with an ascent of the viciously steep and much vaunted " Patricks Hill " in Cork City.
I will be joining 120 cyclists in this, the 21st edition of "the Tour de Munster".