Fun time at Lavanagh House

Some familiar faces were on hand to launch the new Fun Corner at Lavanagh House.

The Fun Corner is a purpose-built play area which includes mini-golf, an all-purpose sports pitch for football and basketball, raised accessible beds for gardening and sensory play and sits alongside the Play Zone which includes a double swing set.

Lavanagh House is Enable Ireland’s respite house for children with disabilities in Curraheen, which it says has been a lifeline for families during the Covid-19 pandemic. The newly opened Fun Corner has allowed children to engage safely with outdoor activities while other community based social activities were restricted.

12 year old Scarlett Beecher and 13 year old Dean Crawford recently joined Enable Ireland CEO John O’Sullivan for a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the Fun Corner. Also at the opening were Cork GAA star Micheál Aodh Martin and golfers Peter O'Keeffe and Sara Byrne.

Susan Beecher, mum to Scarlett, said: “Respite is such a vital service for children like Scarlett. She doesn’t get invited to playdates and misses out on opportunities to socialize and be with friends. It’s our lifeline as a family and it’s her time away from us to be independent and that is really important at her age.

“She loves everything in the new garden, especially the new raised flower beds. It really important to have facilities like this that are accessible to wheelchair users like Scarlett. The cost of trying to put something like this in your own home would be too much.”

Dean said: “When I hear that I am going to the respite house, I feel really excited. I really like the respite staff.”

Dean’s mum Mary added: “As Dean’s mum, it means a break from a busy daily routine. I get some time to spend with my daughter. It’s a break for everyone and Dean is always in good form after respite. It’s a very important and much needed service that we very much appreciate as a family. The house is amazing and Dean loves it.”

Lavanagh House currently provides day respite for children with disabilities in Cork while awaiting registration with HIQA for residential respite.

John O’Sullivan, Enable Ireland CEO, said: “I’m delighted to be able to officially open this new play area which includes the Fun Corner and Play Zone and I am extremely grateful to two local families who have funded these fantastic additions to our respite house.”