Athenry News & Views Summer 2026

Summer 2026

Looking ahead, the plans for the site are ambitious and inspiring. Amicitia hopes to run monthly gardening courses throughout the summer, helping people develop practical skills and confidence in growing their own food. Family-friendly spaces are also planned, including areas where children can interact with nature through activities such as a mud kitchen and environmental play spaces. For adults, future plans include peaceful walking paths winding through the expanding woodland areas, creating a tranquil environment where visitors can relax and reconnect with nature. The group also hopes to develop “wellness vegetable boxes” using produce grown on-site, with aspirations of eventually supplying fresh local ingredients to nearby businesses such as the Raheen Woods Hotel. Environmental sustainability remains central to the project’s vision. Alongside an already functioning rainwater harvesting system, the group plans to introduce composting toilets to further reduce the site’s environmental footprint. Perhaps most importantly, the garden has already begun making a genuine difference within the local community. Children from nearby estates have started growing their own plants and have formed routines around watering them using the community’s harvested rainwater system and shared watering cans. Amicitia and its volunteers warmly welcome anyone interested in getting involved, whether through gardening, maintenance work or simply lending a helping hand. The garden remains open to the public and continues to evolve into a vibrant shared space for the people of Athenry. The official launch of the Athenry Community Garden and Nature Park will take place on 27 June in Gortnahown, opposite Páirc Na hAbhainn estate — a celebration not only of a garden, but of community spirit, sustainability and hope for the future.

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