Special Olympics athletes Patrick Quinlivan and Vicki McGill cut the ribbon on Letterkenny’s newest community facility today, as Cairde le Cheile unveiled an impressive extension to the Vestry at Letterkenny Town Park.
The Letterkenny charity has opened a new space for enhanced amenity and leisure facilities for people with disabilities, while fostering social inclusion for all age and social groups in the local and wider community.
The extension includes a range of disability-friendly features such as a sensory room, sensory garden, disability-friendly multi-purpose changing area, toilets, lifts, ramps, and direct access to all amenities from the town park. The extension also houses tea rooms which were funded by Donegal County Council.
Cairde Le Cheile Unveils New Building for
Enhanced Disability and Community Inclusion
Sensory room. Photo: Clive Wasson
Cairde le Cheile CLG were approved LEADER funding of €250,912.50 by the Donegal Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), through local Implementing Partner Donegal Local Development CLG (DLDC) while €200,000 was also secured from Donegal County Council under Letterkenny’s Social Enterprise Grant Scheme. This funding played a crucial role in making this community-driven project a reality.
Cairde le Cheile CLG Board Members: L-R: Mick Quinlivan, Shane Grant, Rosaleen Gallagher, Damien McKay, Margaret Larkin
The new building extension, strategically positioned on the peripheries of the St Conal’s Hospital campus, overlooking the Letterkenny Bernard McGlinchey Town Park, will address the current lack of accessible facilities for people with disabilities within the park. The charity organisation looks forward to fostering greater community integration, participation, and enrichment of lives through this new facility.
Cairde le Cheile CLG Board Members with representatives of Donegal County Council and DLDC: L-R: Cllr Gerry McMonagle, Mick Quinlivan (Cairde Le Cheile), Adrienne Kelly (Donegal County Council), Damien McKay (Cairde Le Cheile ), Tracey Hannon (Clann Credo), Mayor Kevin Bradley, Rosaleen Gallagher (Cairde Le Cheile), Margaret Larkin (DLDC), Sinead McLaughlin (DLDC), Ciaran Martin (DCC), Francis Conaghan (DCC), Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh
Rosaleen Gallagher, Manager with Cairde Le Cheile, expressed her gratitude on behalf of Shane Grant PGIM Ireland Chairperson of Cairde Le Cheile and the voluntary Board of management for the project: “We are thrilled to share this fantastic new building with the community. It has been a significant endeavour but we know it will enrich the lives of people with disabilities and the wider community so that makes all the effort worthwhile.
Rosaleen added: “I would like to thank the members of the Donegal LCDC, Donegal Local Development CLG and Donegal County Council members for their support from the beginning. I would also like to thank the Private Businesses in Letterkenny and individual members of the local community for their sponsorship and our fantastic team and volunteers at Cairde Le Cheile for all their hard work.
“A special word of thanks to our service users and their families for their input into what facilities we needed to cater to the specific needs of individuals with disabilities.
“We now have an inclusive space for everyone to enjoy the town park and we are delighted and so grateful to the many people who helped us achieve that goal,” Rosaleen said.
Staff of the Fern Cafe and the Tearoom at today’s launch. Photo: Clive Wasson
Vicki McGill, Tara Quinlivan, Patrick Quinlivan. Photo: Clive Wasson
Cllr. Niamh Kennedy, Chairperson of the Donegal LCDC believes the project illustrated the key role of the Donegal LCDC in terms of utilising and identifying various funding opportunities to support community projects: “the members of the Donegal LCDC work closely with our local implementing partners such as DLDC to support and develop new and worthy projects under the LEADER programme. This project is a great example of several key partners working together to ensure our goal of increased and equitable social opportunities are afforded to all members of the community. We wish Cairde le Cheile further success in their future developments”.
Sinead McLaughlin, Rural Development Manager, DLDC, acknowledges the importance of community-led projects for LEADER funding: “DLDC is delighted to support Cairde Le Cheile in their efforts to create a more inclusive society through the LEADER programme. Cairde Le Cheile, with its proven track record of providing services and facilities for people with disabilities, currently hosts various disability and community groups.”
“The new facilities aim to fill the existing gap in amenities within the town park, offering changing facilities and a shelter for wheelchair users, ultimately promoting outdoor activities and a healthy lifestyle among target groups. This project exemplifies the power of community-led initiatives in addressing the diverse needs of the local population, particularly those with disabilities and those at risk of isolation. We look forward to witnessing Cairde Le Cheile’s continued positive impact of these new facilities.”
Stuart Moore, Joe Moore and Darren Bradley
Sharon Doherty (DLDC), Seamus Ronaghan (Vestry Caretaker, Tús Programme), Mary Francis Lockhart (DLDC)
Johnny O’Connor and Karen McGinley
Tara Quinlivan (Facility Manager), Seamus Campbell (Special Olympics Ulster) and Martin McDevitt (DLDC)
Speaking on the support received for the project from local Letterkenny and Milford Municipal District Councillors through the Letterkenny Social Enterprise Grant Scheme, Cllr. Kevin Bradley, Mayor of the Letterkenny/Milford Municipal district said: “We are proud to support Cairde Le Cheile in their objective to create a more inclusive community.
“The new building, supported with funding from Letterkenny’s Social Enterprise Grant Scheme, reflects our commitment to fostering social inclusion and providing accessible facilities for all. Congratulations to Cairde Le Cheile for their dedication to bringing this ambitious project to life. We look forward to seeing the community enjoy this wonderful facility and enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families”.
