Family Fun Day in Newport

Proceeds to benefit Sensory Community Room and Garden’

Work is well advanced on the construction of a ‘Sensory Community Room and Garden’ in an under developed area of ground close to the town, at an estimated overall cost of around €60,000.

The work has been undertaken by the local Development Association (Newport) CLG, on an area of undeveloped space at Newport Community Centre, Clonbealy, and is scheduled for completion over the coming weeks.

Chairman, Donal Meaney, explained: “Earlier this year we started a project that we hope would benefit the needs of our community. We were made aware that there was a lack of services in Newport and surrounding areas for children and adults with sensory needs outside of school and business hours.

“This got us thinking about how we could help to address the issue. With the new Town Park being a great facility and addition to the town, it can become busy and for families with some children and adults with sensory needs, this can become overwhelming for them, and they are unable to enjoy the benefits of playing and socialising outdoors.”

With this in mind, the brainchild of creating a ‘Sensory Community Room and Garden’ was born, a space that would become “a peaceful place to play and relax” within the community. The project is located on an area of under developed ground beside the Community Centre.

The nearly-completed development will be open to everyone at a Family Fun Day at the Community Centre, Newport, on this Sunday, September 3, commencing at 2pm. The programme includes a number of stalls, dog show sponsored by Groom, BBQ, variety of attractions and music. Funds raised on the day will help to make up the local contribution required to supplement grant aid towards the cost of the development under way.

Secretary, Mary Cussen, added: “As we were researching the Garden, we came across a purposely built Sensory Room for the home; upon looking at this, we wondered could this work as a base for a Community Sensory Room, that would be open 365 days a year with no time restrictions. After a little more research and speaking to Steeltech Sheds and Senco we quickly realised this could happen.”

This is a Steeltech room, fitted out floor to ceiling with sensory equipment by Senco which has yet to be built to complete the plan.

“The garden consists of the top ten sensory plants, a little play area and seating to relax and enjoy the garden. It also has a section dedicated to biodiversity. As the seasons change, we will plant more plants and shrubs. We even hope to plant some fruit and vegetables and hope that the community would get involved and help maintain it,” she added.

PJ White has put in hundreds of hours building up the garden and its fitting to the highest standard, with his skillset which has been very deservingly much admired.

Nearly €8,000 spent to date has been provided from existing funds. The completed project is expected to cost in the region of €60,000, of which a local contribution of 25% is required to support Government grant aid.

They are hopeful of some donations towards the development and that this Sunday's Family Fun Day will leave a profit to go towards the fund.

The afternoon programme includes a BBQ, Carousel, Redo Bull, Facepainting, Bake Sale, and music by Molly O’ Connell, Kilcommon, and Donal O’ Connell.

Molly is a qualified hairdresser, who turned to her dream life as a traditional singer and won county, Munster and All-Ireland Scór and Fleadh Cheoil awards before going on to reach the final of Glór Tíre 2023 on TG4 TV earlier this year.

There will also be a raffle during the afternoon for an original oil painting of the Clare Glens donated by the talented local painter, Henry Morgan and his wife, Mary.