A young Co. Galway man is one of ten people across the world with Down Syndrome set to address the United Nations headquarters in New York. Fionn Crombie Angus is using his platform to promote a message of equality and inclusion for those with the chromosomal condition.
“It’s important to me because people with Down Syndrome deserve equality,” Fionn said ahead of his speech today, which marks World Down syndrome Day. On Monday, he took part in the St. Patrick’s Day parade in the city, having brought his fiddle over for the celebrations a few days early.
“I am really excited to be speaking before the UN,” Fionn told Galway Bay FM, saying that his key message was for people like himself to be given “choice and control in their lives.”
“Supports have to be flexible,” Fionn added, emphasising: “Always be optimistic about life.”
“Inclusion means inclusion – no exceptions,” Fionn’s dad Jonathan added.
The Galway man has spent the last decade of his life working on a number of inspirational and positivity-packed projects aimed at breaking down stigma and barriers around Down Syndrome. Born in Wicklow, Fionn grew up in East Clare before moving to Galway City with his father, Jonathan, ten years ago.
Fionn made history in 2022 when, aged just 26, he helped to enact a groundbreaking law to better the lives of those with disabilities. His advocacy work, aimed at improving the prospects of people with Down Syndrome in Ireland, helped to capture the attention of Britain’s National Down Syndrome Group, and the UN.
In the UK, Fionn was asked to champion the Down Syndrome Bill, which successfully passed through the UK parliament and was signed into law in 2022. The Bill deals with education, employment, healthcare and housing for those with the condition. It is regarded as one of the world’s most expansive legislation specific to Down Syndrome.
Speaking about the Bill in 2022, Fionn’s dad, Jonathan, said: “We sometimes say that too many people with Down Syndrome have life stories that are tragedies, and we really want to change that. We hope to see that this law will help people with Down Syndrome in the UK to have lives that are as good as anyone else’s in society.”
Fionn is passionate about traditional music, and is a talented fiddle player. Along with dad Jonathan, he also has a YouTube series where he asks people what they love about their lives. The channel is called “Fionnathan Presents: The Happiness Project.” In total, Fionn has interviewed more than 700 people, including Nobel Prize and Oscar winners, best- selling authors, Heads of State, and people with Down syndrome.
His latest interview was with recent Oscar winner, actor Kieran Culkin – who told Fionn that his “wife and his kids [are] the top thing.”
Fionn has interviewed many other famous names – including the late Angela Lansbury and Cillian Murphy. His video with the Cork actor shot to popularity on YouTube, with almost 4 million views:
When asked what he enjoys most about his life, Fionn said his family is the most important thing to him, alongside his love for the violin, baseball, and animals.
Fionn’s dad Jonathan has spoken about Fionn’s journey, with the father and son moving to Galway City when Fionn finished secondary school. While his classmates were travelling or going to college, Fionn found that he had far less options available to him due to his intellectual disability. Fionn said that his dream was to play the fiddle, and that he wanted to move to Galway – and his dad decided to move with him.
It was also around this time that Fionnathan Productions began, with the channel hoping to inspire and support others in achieving their own dreams, and to shift the societal paradigm so that those who are alternately-gifted are celebrated.
Since Fionn left school, he has achieved a huge amount, having taught in primary and secondary schools, and visiting several countries as part of his work. He has delivered talks at 30 different universities and became the first person with Down Syndrome to sit in the board of directors of Down Syndrome Ireland. Fionn also recently worked with Harvard Law School to research how inclusive the UNCRPD process is, and how inclusive it can be.
But speaking in New York will be Fionn’s biggest feat to date. This year’s theme is “changing services” and Fionn will speak about how a functional system needs to be flexible.
A Go Fund Me has already raised €5,000 to help Fionn cover the costs for his trip to New York. “If you want to chip in, you’ll be helping him (and his dad) realize a big ambition. One of many,” the fundraiser states.