Kinaffe Community Garden, Mayo 

Kinaffe Community Garden received the Health & Wellbeing Award for their courageous and innovative approach to integration. This simple but highly effective community garden heals trauma, enables friendship and healthy living, allowing children to grow stronger with every seed they sow.    

Located in Castlebar, the garden was created to support newly arrived families and the wider community, becoming a place of belonging and healing. Maintained by local volunteers, retirees, and secondary school students, it brings together people of all ages and backgrounds to learn, share, and build friendships through nature-based activities. 

Part-funding from the National Lottery enabled Kinaffe Community Garden to transform an unused space into a thriving outdoor classroom. A polytunnel, raised beds, and safe walkways were installed, allowing children to engage in hands-on learning, healthy living, and sustainability. The garden also provides vital access to green space and fresh produce for families living in accommodation with limited facilities. 

The impact has been transformative. Community pride has flourished through regular social events and shared activities that bring the community together. The project has received national and international recognition for its innovative approach to integration and environmental education and continues to inspire similar initiatives across Ireland and beyond.  

Kinaffe Community Garden is a shining example of what’s possible when compassion, creativity, and community come together. The National Lottery Good Causes Awards is proud to celebrate this extraordinary initiative and the tireless work of the volunteers that maintain the garden. 

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