Cllr Liam Callaghan, Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council, officially opening Castlerea Library’s new Sensory Garden on Friday 19th September.

Cllr Callaghan expressed his wish that the launch would be “the start of many hours of creativity and joy being savoured by those who use these vital facilities. This is a community resource ‘of the community, by the community and more importantly, for the community.’”

It is a garden that will be, as the title suggests, “a feast for the senses, a community space that can be enjoyed by everyone for the greater good of the community.”

The garden will support people with sensory needs to avail of a safe space that is educational, recreational, entertaining and empowering for all users. Local school children explored the new garden accompanied by teachers and care assistants.

The garden includes varying paving patterns with integrated areas beautifully landscaped with trees that include a combination of tactile grasses, low level foliage and canopy providing trees.

Concrete planter boxes and paved steps incorporate casual seating while some of the sensory installations include mirrors and animal-themed blackboards as well as a play kitchen and wipeable painting easel.

Funding for this project can be traced back to the origins of Community Recognition Fund, a Government of Ireland initiative funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development, first introduced in 2023.   The fund provides for community infrastructure projects in towns and villages hosting significant numbers of people seeking Temporary Protection or International Protection. 

Speaking at the launch, Chief Executive Shane Tiernan acknowledged the support of local elected representatives, particularly those in attendance, Senator Scahill, the Chairman of your local Municipal District, Cllr. Fitzmaurice and all elected members of Roscommon County Council.

For neurodivergent library patrons, sensory gardens offer a range of experiences to help stimulate and engage.  These facilities can be enjoyed, not just by those with sensory issues, but also by all members of the community as well as local care service users.

Through Roscommon Libraries’ Sense-Ability Programme, Castlerea library already offers a safe, wheelchair accessible sensory space; ‘The Cubbie’ inside the building, while Roscommon and Boyle Libraries offer service users a Sensory Pod and access to the Happiness Programme, through interactive sensory magic tables. All libraries in Roscommon also offer a collection of sensory equipment and toys

Landscape Architect Gwen Tierney of Landmark Design was engaged to design the Sensory Garden, while local contractors Creighton & Regan completed the hard and soft landscaping and associated works.  The delivery of the project was a collaboration between multiple units of Roscommon County Council.