Mrs Sabina Higgins, wife of President Michael D. Higgins, was Guest of Honour at a garden party held in Western Care Association’s Saint Rita’s residential home in Claremorris on Friday 17th July last to celebrate the completion of the wheelchair accessible sensory garden. The residents of Saint Rita’s Mary Davin, Adrian Dunleavy, Neil Ginty, Brendan Murphy and Vincent Fox invited Mrs Higgins to join with them, their families and community to celebrate the completion of a project which began three years ago.
The redevelopment of the garden at St Rita’s was the idea of Padraig Cunnane, a member of Western Care’s Rights Review Committee, with most of the work being carried out by South West Mayo Development Company (SWMDC ) and Clár IRD. When Padraig first visited Saint Rita’s three years ago the garden was a dark and boggy space surrounded on three sides by very large leylandii trees with limited access for the residents. Padraig formed a working group who planned the transformation of the dreary area into a vibrant wheelchair accessible sensory garden. The residents, their families and staff helped with the design process to ensure that the garden met their needs and various Western Care departments were consulted including occupational therapy, health and safety, maintenance and fundraising. Under the guidance of Kevin Cunniffe, SWMDC, the overgrown trees were felled, the area was drained and pipes laid for a water feature. Power was extended from the house to provide lighting and garden sockets; a sunken trampoline was installed as well as a pizza oven. Paving was laid to make the area wheelchair accessible and the garden began to take shape.
The Claremorris community were very supportive with invaluable advice and assistance provided by James Kean and the team in Kean’s Garden Centre and Clár IRD team. Various individuals and groups organised fundraising events to help finance the development including Stars in their Eyes, the Three a Side in Breaffy darts event and Rhythms in May Concerts.
All work was completed in time for a joyful celebration garden party on 17th July. Guest of Honour, Mrs Higgins, was joined by the residents’ families and friends and all the people who had helped in any way with the project plus representatives of SWMDC and Clár IRD. She was greeted by Helen McHugh, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Western Care Association and Margaret Hardesty, Social Care Leader at St Rita’s. Although the weather was not ideal the sun shone while Mrs Higgins was shown around the garden. She was then introduced to the residents, families and guests and gave a speech. Mrs Higgins spoke about her attendance at secondary school in the local Mounty St. Michael’s Convent in Claremorris and about the importance of friends and community. She spoke about recent positive advancements for people with disabilities and how much things have improved in this area. Mrs Higgins speech was well received and responded to by Helen McHugh. A presentation was made to Mrs Higgins on behalf of the residents of Saint Rita’s by Brendan Murphy. She then cut a cake representing the garden that had been baked and iced by Marion Earley, manager of Western Care’s speech and language department.
Mrs Higgins was a most gracious guest and spent time with each resident and their families. She met and congratulated local athlete Aoife Beston on her achievements with Special Olympic and was photographed mingling with the residents’ families and all guests. Mrs Higgins enjoyed refreshments before her departure and even tried out Saint Rita’s new pizza oven! Music was provided by Annette Griffin and John Staunton, the Kavanagh family, who played lovely traditional music and Linda Conway, a staff member at St Rita’s. While the rain did not stay away for Mrs Higgins entire visit nothing could dampen spirits in Saint Rita’s with such a warm and humble Guest of Honour. Mary, Brendan, Adrian, Neil and Vincent thoroughly enjoyed all the fuss around the event.