Down Syndrome Ireland Donegal Branch Family Boat Trip

What to Expect

The Donegal branch of Down Syndrome Ireland organises a family outing on the Donegal Bay Waterbus on Sunday 23 August 2026. Members and their families are invited to come together, catch up with friends, and spend an afternoon on the water enjoying the coastal scenery of Donegal Bay. The branch describes the trip as an inclusive and supportive gathering open to children, siblings, parents, grandparents and carers, giving families a relaxed, low-pressure setting to socialise outside the usual round of appointments and therapies that can otherwise dominate the calendar.

Outings like this are a regular part of how the Donegal branch supports its members, giving children and adults with Down syndrome, and the wider family circle around them, a shared social occasion built around an activity everyone can enjoy together regardless of age or ability. The boat trip format in particular offers a sensory-friendly, low-key alternative to a busier land-based event, while still giving families the chance to enjoy one of Donegal Bay’s best-known tourist attractions from the water.

Good to Know

The boat trip runs from 1.30pm to 4.30pm, departing from the waterbus’s berth on Quay Street in Donegal Town. Space is limited, so early booking through Eventbrite is recommended for anyone hoping to attend, and refunds are available up to seven days before the event if plans change. As an outing organised by a local branch of a national charity rather than a public commercial sailing, the trip is intended primarily for branch members and their families, though the branch welcomes enquiries from families in the county who are not yet connected with the group. It doubles, in a low-key way, as a community and awareness event for families supported by Down Syndrome Ireland in Donegal.

Getting There

The Donegal Bay Waterbus departs from Quay Street in Donegal Town, close to the town’s central car parks and a short walk from the Diamond, so it is an easy meeting point for families travelling in from around the county.