(Ireland) Clonmel opens playground for kids with AUTISM/special needs; "much needed facility"

Oct 27, 2018, The Nationalist: New playground for children with autism and special needs opens in Clonmel https://www.nationalist.ie/news/home/343747/new-playground-for-children-with-autism-and-special-needs-opens-in-clonmel.html A new playground that offers a safe, relaxing and accepting environment for children with autism and special needs has opened in Clonmel…. A fundraising drive across the community raised more than €125,000 [$180,000 US dollars] to provide the playground, the idea for which came from a comment posted on Facebook by local woman Jeanette Condon. … As a parent of a child with special needs, she said it provided a safe, relaxing and accepting environment for those with autism and special needs…. District Mayor Richie Molloy said it was a day of celebration and it showed what could be achieved when people from across the community worked together. He said the playground was a first-rate facility that would be widely used. Isabel Cambie, chief executive of the South Tipperary Development Company, praised Catherine Kennedy and the committee of the Autism Support Group - which, she said, proved it could deliver - while Joe O'Sullivan, president of Clonmel Rotary, said this much-needed facility would enrich the lives of young people. … An ecumenical blessing of the playground was performed by Fr. Deo, Ss Peter and Paul's parish.