Dungloe residency for people with intellectual disabilites praised by all

The sun shone down on all who gathered for the official opening of Ard an Aonaigh Close Residences, Fair Hill, Dungloe earlier this morning. 

The residency consists of 3 group homes with 4 units in each home for those with special needs. These units are replacing the units previously occupied at Piermount House, in Dungloe. The estimated cost of the build is €2.2m. The parents & Friends of People with Intellectual Disabilities was set up Co.Donegal Parents and Friends Housing Association in 1998 in order to access funding from the Deptartment of Housing to build much needed homes for those with an Intellectual Disability.  

Speaking ahead of the opening, Fianna Fail Councillor Noreen McGarvey gave heartfelt thanks to all those who traveled to be in attendance adding that Ard an Aonaigh is a very special place. She is now the chairperson of the committee which spearheaded the project many years ago.

She said that the people of Dungloe had waited a long time for the project to come to fruition. Later she spoke of the difficulties that the association encountered as they faced difficulty after difficulty trying to get the project across the line.

She recognised the work that Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher had in moving the project forward and help he secured in the corridors of Dáil Éireann: "I would like to thank Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher for all the quiet work he did behind the scenes." 

The former Leas Cheann Comhairle Mr. Pat the Cope Gallagher officially opened  the units which he described as being of an exceptional high standard and possibly the best in the country earlier this morning. He said that the template for the residency ought to be used across the country in future. 

Thirty per cent of the funding that was used to build the state-of-the-art building was provided by relations and friends. John Bosco O'Donnell was recognised for his huge fund-raising efforts. The HSE also provided funding and purchased many of the much-needed appliances within the residency. The rooms in the residency are ensuite and care is provided for residents throughout the night.

Mr Gallagher acknowledged the work of all agencies and those who worked in a voluntary capacity in relation to the project. 

"Without Nóra Flynn, this building wouldn't be here," Mr Gallagher said. 

He said that over the many decades of work that went into getting the project ready, Nóra was extremely efficient. He also commended Margaret Wilson who worked into the darkness of night in getting matters in order in relation to the project. 

He said that those who work in the units don't see their daily duties as work but rather as a vocation: "They love coming to work every day." 

"I would also like to recognise the work of Séamus Rodgers and we would all like to wish him a speedy recovery," he said. 

Both the former and present area managers in the Glenties Municipal District Area were given high praise from Mr Gallagher who said that Mr Eamonn Browne was available to them both day and night and that Michael Rowsome had given immense help towards getting the plans in place. 

Senior Executive Officer with Donegal Couty Council, Eamon Browne recalled how the project had evolved over the years and praising the project added he hoped to see the project replicated across the county in years to come. 

Service manager, Yvonne Houston said that the names of the houses were decided by residents and the team at Ard an Aonaigh. The houses are named after islands. 

She congratulated John Lowry on being the eldest resident in the residency, aged 90. She commended the 'trojan work' of the association in working towards creating the residency. 

John Bosco O'Donnell said he had been involved in the project for over 4 decades. He thanked the former chairpersons Prionsias Mc Bride and Jim Campell. He said he had been working from 1979 to 2023 on the project.  

The need to develop accommodation in community settings for persons with intellectual disability was identified by Co Donegal Parents and Friends of Persons, established in 1964, and the Housing Association was established in 1998 in order to access funding. The Association working in conjunction with Donegal County Council accessed funding under the Capital Assistance Scheme and in partnership with HSE, developed community residencies at Saimer View, Ballyshannon and Ard na Gréine, Stranorlar.   

In 2004, the need for housing for person's with an intellectual disabilty in the Dungloe area was identified and the housing association commenced work on the project. The project initially was to buy a house. However, a suitable property was not available and the need for more than one resident confirmed. The association decided to purchase a site and build three houses to accommodate twelve people. The association worked closely with members from Donegal County Council and the Department of the Environment on the design and funding. The association also worked in colloboration with the Donegal Intellectual and Disability Services HSE on identifyint the needs of the residents. The HSE provide ongoing help and support to the residents. 

It was recognised that this is the type of work that can be achieved when voluntary groups work with statutory agencies. During a recent visit to the residency, Minister Anne Rabbitte said that the residency was an example of multi-agency cooperation and that the design and layout is a model which could be replicated nationally.