Search

06 Sept 2025

Soul destroying: Longford school sensory garden in final stages of completion torn asunder by Storm Éowyn

The garden is situated on Main Street, Lanesboro right behind Lanesbrew

Soul destroying: Longford school sensory garden in final stages of completion torn asunder by Storm Éowyn

This picture merely shows a small part of the devastation in the Sensory Garden that was being developed in Lanesboro

Reporter:

Joe O'Brien

03 Feb 2025 12:56 PM

Email:

Lanesboro correspondent

Storm Éowyn left scenes of devastation everywhere and nowhere more than at the developing sensory garden at the back of Lanesbrew in Lanesboro.
The sight is something out of a horror story.
It looks as if a tornado started at the bottom corner and inch by inch totally disseminated the work done. The garden is situated on the Main Street right behind Lanesbrew.
The sensory garden was in the final stages of completion and it was going to be a massive addition to our community and especially to Lanesboro Primary School.
The use of this garden was primarily designated for people with autism.
Some of the facts about autism are the autism spectrum disorder affects (ASD) 1 in 36 children with boys being five times more likely to be diagnosed than girls.
Autism is in fact a difference in the way a brain processes information, and this is something we are born with. People on the autistic spectrum may find planning, change, and busy environments difficult to cope with, but they also can have heightened senses, higher IQs and some incredible abilities which are not possible for those not on the spectrum.
This garden was going to be a wonderful space for people with autism and those without it. It was going to compliment the new room for children with autism in the Lanesboro Primary School.
There was additional funding made available for the completion of the sensory garden and to be so close and now be further back than the day you started is soul destroying.
There was a poly tunnel and a canopy for talks and lectures all now totally destroyed. There was also the conversion of the old abattoir into four units now totally in ruins. This building had the potential for creative people to sell their wares as well as offering a workspace in the centre of town.
Unfortunately, for those that have put so much time, planning and hard work into getting the project to almost completion this is a distressing situation and they sure are wondering where to turn next to be in a position to redevelop the entire site.
Support for the recreation of the sensory garden from council and Government has to be made available as the people working tirelessly on this project have done a huge amount of work that would have fallen back on their offices to complete.
The community benefit of a completed sensory garden right in the centre of town would be of a massive benefit and a quiet, relaxing place for those looking for a peaceful and tranquil space if it is only with a cup of coffee from Lanesbrew.

To continue reading this article,
please subscribe and support local journalism!

Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles.

Subscribe

To continue reading this article for FREE,
please kindly register and/or log in.

Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites. You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news!

Register / Login

Most Popular

Sponsored Content

Multimedia

We've got Donegal Covered...

Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie

Buy a paper

Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.

Buy Now
Get the news

Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.

Register Here
Iconic Media is Ireland's largest independently owned regional newspaper and media group, with an unrivalled audience in print, online and mobile. We have 19 regional newspapers and 21 digital sites.

Iconic Digital Titles

  • Carlow Live
  • Clare Live
  • Derry Now
  • Donegal Live
  • Éire Bheo
  • Inish Live
  • Ireland Live
  • Kildare Live
  • Kildare Now
  • Kilkenny Live
  • Laois Live
  • Leitrim Live
  • Letterkenny Live
  • Limerick Live
  • Longford Live
  • Louth Live
  • Mayo Live
  • Nenagh Live
  • Offaly Live
  • Tipperary Live
  • Waterford Live

    • Iconic Print Titles

  • Clonmel Nationalist
  • County Derry Post
  • Derry News
  • Donegal Democrat
  • Donegal Post
  • Dundalk Democrat
  • Homes in Donegal
  • Inish Times
  • Kilkenny People
  • Leinster Express
  • Leinster Leader
  • Leitrim Observer
  • Letterkenny Live
  • Limerick Leader
  • Longford Leader
  • Mayo News
  • Midland Tribune
  • Tipperary Star
  • Tullamore Tribune

    • This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.

    © 2025 Iconic Media