Buncrana disability park opens to the public

‘Fun for All’ Buncrana recently opened a new disability play park to make the swings accessible to everyone. 

The Friel family opened the park in memory of their brother Gareth. He had complex special needs, he passed away in 2022. Gareth loved using a swing, that was one of the inspirations for this park.

A wheelchair accessible bench

The organising for the park began in July 2023 when a fundraising walk between Malin Head and Buncrana raised €38,000 for inclusive and sensory play equipment.

The new park beside the original

Every penny was spent on equipment, with Donegal County Council providing the groundwork and installation.

The main attraction is the wheelchair accessible swing which can hold up to 250kg. The swing is accessible with a radar key that can be purchased for €5 from the Go Visit Inishowen tourist office, they can be contacted on 353 (0)74 936 3451.

The radar key isn’t just for the park, as it is part of a universal key scheme that offers disabled people independent access to locked public toilets around the country.

In July of this year the play park actually celebrated being open 20 years, so this extension is a timely addition. The original Buncrana Festival Committee raised €100,000 at the time to build it and the Donegal County Council Funded the rest. The total cost was €300,000, which was a lot of money at the time.

Coreen Robinson, a sister to Gareth, actually helped upgrade the public toilets earlier this year. A second partnership was created with Donegal County Council and the toilet block was deep cleaned inside and out  and new hand dryers, taps, toilet roll holders were added. My husband, Nigel,  Naoimh and Eileen Friel and I painted the inside of the toilet block.

The Buncrana Tidy Towns painted the outside and my daughter Eve and niece Cassie designed and painted the exterior mural with help from Caoimhe and Aoife. Once again a family project.