Axa Parks Fund.
Dún na Sí Amenity and Heritage Park are part of a national drive to promote local green spaces, biodiversity and community connections with new funding secured through the AXA Parks fund which is promoting green spaces across all 32 counties.
This grant allowed us to enhance our sensory garden by replacing our current raised beds which had started to decay and collapse. Using recycled sustainable materials sourced from Irish suppliers which are environmentally friendly.
Karen Nugent, General Manager at Dún na Si says: “The support of the AXA Parks Fund through The Community Foundation for Ireland is a great help in improving and maintaining our sensory garden, one of the many attractions in our Amenity Park. Local green spaces are vital assets which should be protected, promoted and supported. Our work will not only deliver benefits for local people now but will help ensure the survival of our local biodiversity to be enjoyed for generations to come”.
EU Grant Funding – Westmeath County Council.
A number of footpaths in the park were resurfaced making them more accessible to all users.
The public toilets in the park were completely upgraded and modernised, now consisting of 6 toilet cubicles with one full access Disability and baby changing friendly cubicle.
Creative Ireland Grant.
‘Mindfulness Labyrinth Path’ at Dún na Sí.
This project is funded by the Creative Ireland Programme.
Dún na Sí’s general manager Karen Nugent highlighted that “Mindfulness is more important than ever” and that “Here at Dún na Sí we’re always trying to connect people”.
Local Artist Patsy Preston leads the project having worked closely with Dún na Sí over the years and has designed many of the parks iconic figures such as ‘Lugh’s Spear’.
Patsy will work in conjunction with 4 local groups to design the Labyrinth. These are:
Moate Mens Shed.
St Hilda’s day care service, Moate.
Ukrainian’s living in Moate.
Horseleap Direct Provision Centre.
Dún na Sí has worked closely with a number of these groups for many years.
Workshops began in June 2023 and will hopefully be completed by October 2023 with no disruption to access to the park during this time.
HSE National Lottery Grant.
Thanks to a successful application to the HSE National Lottery Grant we were able to add three wheelchair accessible picnic benches to the park, all made from recycled products. 1 is located at our Sensory Garden next to the accessible raised beds. 1 is located outside the Cafe near the Disability playground and 1 is located inside the Heritage Park outside the Fisherman’s cottage.