FOR the young charges at St Gabriel’s school and Therapy Centre in Dooradoyle, their new sensory room and garden are a stress buster, an anxiety remedy and a developmental aid all wrapped into one.
Sensory experiences help children with special needs to cope with the demands placed on them in dealing with a world that is often strange, frightening and just too much.
So while the school and the parents’ association feel the room and garden are worth every penny of the €46,000 that they cost, they still have to be paid for so they are planning fundraisers, the first of which it’s hoped will bring in €6,000 to help tackle the overdraft.
“Sensory input is hugely important for the children to ground and de-stress,” explained Linda O’Leary of St Gabriel’s PTA.
“The school didn’t have any such facility since it opened so we got to work on providing the room during the summer break.
“It’s also very important for the kids to have a safe space where they can explore nature and experience the outdoors, the feel of sensory plants, the smells, the fresh air. The gardens are accessible from the classrooms so it’s right there for them,” Linda told the Limerick Post.
The event planned for Friday, October 5 in the ballroom of the Savoy Hotel will take revellers back to the 80′s.
“James Sexton has very kindly offered to host all the entertainment for the night so it’s going to be a memorable event. The hotel has also been very good to us, giving us the room and helping us out with the finger food”.
Apart from the food, the bopping and the fun atmosphere, there will lots of party games and fantastic spot prizes.
“We have a signed Limerick jersey and signed hurleys and weekends away. We have loads of fantastic prizes on offer,” said Linda.
And for anyone who wants to dress up in the gear of the era that fashion forgot, there’s a photo-both on site to make the embarrassment of wearing leg-warmers and shoulder pads last.
“This is an event is being organised solely by the St Gabriel’s Parents Association so we can guarantee that all money raised on the night will go directly to the school and not other projects under the umbrella of St Gabriel’s school and centre,” Linda explained.
Tickets are €20 and are available in advance from the school or at the door. Doors open 7.30pm and the craic will go on until late.
