Pupils at Scoil Iosaf Naofa, Ballintemple National School, Crab Lane, Cork City ROCK THEIR SOCKS on World Down Syndrome day 2023. ( Cian Minogue and classmates Niall, Jack, James, Isabella, Ava, Marlee and Maeve show off their odd socks in the school.yard. FROM DOWN SYNDROME CORK...."Why do we celebrate World Down Syndrome day on March 21st???? People with Down Syndrome have three copies of Chromosome 21. This is why we celebrate World Down Syndrome Day on the 21st day of the 3rd month. We all get 23 Chromosomes from our Mother and 23 from our Father. Some people say chromosomes look like pairs of socks. Sometimes people have an extra ‘sock’ or chromosome and a person with Down Syndrome has an extra copy of Chromosome 21. This makes people with Down Syndrome a little bit different but different is ok. People with Down Syndrome learn, laugh, love, live and just like the rest of us, sometimes also get cross, sad, dislike things, get uncomfortable being stared at and just want to join in with everyone else. Wearing cool socks or odd socks on March 21st raises awareness of the importance of including people who are different. An odd pair of socks can do the same thing as a matching pair of socks, in other words they are different but still do the same thing. So by wearing fun socks on March 21st we can help to encourage people to start a conversation about diversity, uniqueness, inclusion and acceptance". Pic: Larry Cummins