A Dublin dad has helped his son with Down Syndrome become a business owner so he can have a job like everybody else.
Tallaght man Finbar Barry told Dublin Live hos son Thomas has always played with socks,. He would put one sock into the other and swing them around his fingers for hours.
He never played much with toys in his early childhood but would go nowhere without his socks - so Finbar helped his 31-year-old son become a sock selling entrepreneur.
Read more: Dublin run pays tribute to 4-year-old autistic girl who died in tragic circumstances
Finbar said: “Thomas was born with Down Syndrome as well as a host of other serious illnesses like Perthes Disease, Hirschsprung Disease, a heart murmur, an under-active thyroid gland, and stomach reflux. 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, he was constantly telling me he was going to get himself a job and to make 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.
“In reality, Thomas could never hold down a regular type of job due to his intellectual and physical disabilities, but those who know Thomas know when he makes up his mind about something he is very determined to see it through. I have been looking at some options over the years in the hope to provide some way for Thomas to feel like he can have a job just like everybody else - and the answer was staring me in the face.”
So Thomas’s Trendy Socks business launched, and the name of his company is called Thomp2 - when Thomas signs his name it looks like Thomp2. The family has pledged to give 5 percent of any profits to the St. John of Gods organisation who have cared for Thomas for many years.
And Thomas' socks have secured their first big outlet, being sold at the National Museum of Ireland.
Shane Sterio from the museum told Dublin Live: “We came across Thomas’ Socks online and in a showcase. The idea behind it was to involve Thomas in a family business and give him a job. Thomas was always interested in socks so it was a natural steer to go towards.
“He has plenty of creativity, he loves drawing. Finbar’s grandson Shane is a graphic designer so he got involved too.
“We’re selling them in our Kildare Street shop in the National Museum of Archaeology. They’re doing well and we’re getting a lot of positive reaction from our customers because they’re so eye-catching and the designs are really quirky. The rainbow socks sold really well over Pride too.”
You can shop for the socks online here .
READ MORE:
Dublin mum feels helpless as young non-verbal son deteriorates before her eyes
Mother of boy with autism fears every parent's worst nightmare
Kindhearted Dublin doctor raises over €20k for young quadriplegic patient
New Down Syndrome Centre opens in Sandyford to support children and families
Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox
