CLG Ard an Ratha opens Donegal’s first GAA Community Sensory Room

CLG Ard an Ratha in southwest Donegal proudly became the first club in the county—and one of only a few in the country—to open a dedicated Community Sensory Room at its grounds, Pearse Memorial Park.

The project was made possible through grant funding from the GAA Disability Fund, Donegal Sports Partnership, the HSE National Lottery Fund, the Clogheravaddy Wind Farm Fund, and a variety of local fundraising efforts and donations.

Designed as a supportive and calming space, the sensory room will be available daily for families with children who have additional needs.

Speaking at the launch, Club Chairman John McConnell said:

“We have done a huge amount of work on our facilities in recent years to make Pearse Memorial Park a community hub for everyone in the Parish, but we did feel though that we weren’t catering enough for children with additional needs.

“We are hopeful now that this facility will cater for those children and their families in the community when they need some quiet time and space. We are hugely grateful to all our members who done work free of charge to get the facility ready and our hard working sub committee for getting the project to fruition.”

Donegal GAA Chairperson Mary Coughlan, who attended the launch, added:

“On behalf of Donegal GAA I wish to congratulate ardara GAA club on the opening of their sensory room.

“This reflects the ethos of the club and the GAA as an inclusive community organisation and these new facilities will support families where previously they may have felt excluded. Well done to the voluntary committee who made this possible.”