Kingspan Breffni’s new accessibility space and sensory room took first place in the Community Project Award category at the 2024 Stadium Business Design and Development Awards.
By John Harrington
Cavan GAA pulled off a big win in the Theatre of Dreams, Old Trafford, last night when they took first place in the Community Project Award category at the 2024 Stadium Business Design and Development Awards last night.
Kingspan Breffni’s new accessibility space and sensory room saw off competition from carbon-neutral Canon Medical Arena (Sheffield), community legacy at Parque Estadio Nacional (Santiago), remembrance garden at John Smith's Stadium (Huddersfield Town FC), the green roof at Adidas Arena (Paris Entertainment Company), and AELTC Community Tennis Centre (All England Club/Langstaff Day Architects).
The Kingspan Breffni sensory room was constructed in 2023 and is a collaboration between Cavan GAA and sponsor Kingspan along with Sláintecare and supported by over 20 Cavan GAA clubs.
The accessibility space was developed in partnership with Wilton Waste Recycling and was opened in June this year.
The sensory room in Kingspan breffni.
Both projects were driven by Cavan GAA’s Health and Wellbeing Committee which has won a host of other awards in the last couple of years for their outstanding work.
"Accessibility is not just a legal requirement, but a moral imperative," says Tony Ryan, Chairperson of Cavan GAA's Health and Wellbeing committee.
"We are committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can fully enjoy the excitement and community spirit of our games.
“Wilson Waste helped us fund the accessibility area and Kingspan helped fund the sensory room which is beside it, and we also got some financial help from clubs.
“It's one of the very few sensory rooms in sports stadiums in Ireland and it’s being used a lot by families that have children with additional needs. They come in and sit down in that room in comfort and they can watch the match and the child that has additional needs is in a good, safe environment."