By Sean Moriarty

A new state-of-the-art sensory garden will now be added at the Old Monastery after over €84,000 funding was approved this week.

Service users with Kerry Parents and Friends Association on Port Road will experience the amazing benefits of sight, smell, touch, taste and sound once the new facility is complete.

The Killarney charity will receive €84,292 from the Strengthening Disability Services Fund announced by Minister of State for Disabilities, Anne Rabbitte TD, earlier this week.

Kerry Parents and Friends Association is one of 65 similar organisations across the country to receive a portion of the €1 million once-off fund.

The plants and the materials for sensory gardens are specifically chosen to stimulate the senses of sight, smell, touch, taste and sound. While they are popular with the entire community, they are particularly beneficial to children and adults with disabilities inducing a sense of relaxation and stress reduction and improved physical, mental and emotional well-being as well as an increased awareness of surroundings.

“We are delighted with our successful application for a grant towards a sensory garden at the Old Monastery,” Marie Linehan, Chief Executive of Kerry Parents and Friends Association, told the Killarney Advertiser.

“This is a very welcome development as this sensory Garden will provide so many benefits to the people we support, more especially now during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kerry Parents and Friends Association is constantly researching and innovating to provide the best possible service to the people we support. We strive to ensure relaxation techniques, peacefulness in daily activities and enjoyment for all and this new development will deliver all that.

“We intend to develop other sensory gardens at our properties around the county also with the help of good people in our local communities. We are grateful for this support and look forward to working on these plans in 2022.”