Whether you’re looking for local support, somewhere to take the kids, a quieter place to visit, or just trying to find out what’s available nearby, we’ve pulled together some of the things that may make everyday life a little easier for families in Lucan.

Local Groups & Parent Support

If you’re looking for local parent support, it can be worth keeping an eye on community groups and local parent networks, as these can be a great way to hear about activities, events, and supports that may not always be easy to find online. Many parents connect through local Facebook groups, informal meet-ups, or word of mouth in the Lucan area. These can be a helpful way to share experiences, ask questions, and find local recommendations. Try searching Facebook for: “Autism Lucan”, “Additional Needs Lucan”, or “SN Lucan Parents”.

CoolStars Kids Club
CoolStars Kids Club is a local inclusive club for children aged 5–12. The club offers a safe environment where children can take part in creative, educational, and fun activities.

📍 St Andrew’s Parish Centre, Lucan Village
📅 Every Second Saturday, 11:30am–1:30pm

Lucan Special Olympics Club
Lucan Special Olympics offers a number of sports and activities for children and young people, including basketball, bocce, floorball, and Young Athletes. It can be a great way for children to get involved in sport in a supportive environment and meet other children along the way.

📍 Coláiste Phádraig, Roselawn, Lucan
📞 0852039312
📧 lucanspecialolympics@gmail.com

Community Centres

Community centres can be a helpful starting point for local activities, classes, and informal supports. They may run classes such as art, movement, or play-based activities. Many offer smaller group settings and flexible environments that can feel more manageable.

📍 Ballyowen Castle Youth & Community Centre
A local community centre offering a range of activities and services, including sensory play, an after-school club, children’s art classes, Irish dancing, community events, and groups & classes for local families. You can view a list of their services here.

📍 Balgaddy Community Centre
A multi-purpose community centre with community rooms, a hall, and childcare space. It hosts children’s camps, exercise classes, seasonal events, and other activities for the local community. You can see what they offer here.

📍 Adamstown Youth & Community Centre
Provides community, recreational, and sporting activities, with facilities including a sports hall, gym, community rooms, and outdoor playing areas. There is also a variety of different classes to check out, you can see their timetable here.

📍 St Mary’s Parish
Hosts community activities and local events. It may be worth checking what’s available throughout the year, as offerings can vary.

Local Places

📍 Lucan Library
A calm and welcoming space with quiet areas and a large play area for children that is suitable for short visits. The library also runs sensory-focused sessions. Recent Sensory Space sessions have included sensory equipment, toys, ear defenders, and the Magic Table in a calmer environment for babies and young children. It’s worth checking what sessions are currently available before visiting, as activities can change.

Parks
Local parks and outdoor spaces can be a great way to explore, move, and enjoy quieter time in the community.

📍 Griffeen Valley Park
📍 Hermitage Park
📍 Willsbrook Park
📍 St. Catherine’s Park
📍 Tandy’s Lane Park
📍 Vesey Park
📍 Ballyowen Park

Communication boards are available in several of these locations, including: Griffeen Valley Park, Hermitage Park, and Willsbrook Park.

Playgrounds
Local playgrounds can be a good options for play and short outings, especially when visited at quieter times. Visiting earlier in the day or outside peak times can help create a more comfortable experience.

📍 Griffeen Valley Park Playground
📍 Hermitage Park Playground
📍 Tandy’s Lane Park Playground
📍 St Catherine’s Park Playground

Sensory-Friendly Places

📍 Liffey Valley Shopping Centre
A busy environment, but off-peak hours may feel more manageable. While the centre itself doesn’t hold store-wide sensory hours, individual stores (like Penney’s) operate quiet hours. These will be listed on their websites.

📍 Jump Zone – SEN Sessions
Tailored sessions for children with additional needs. These sessions offer a calmer environment with fewer people and more flexibility, making it easier for children to enjoy play at their own pace.

📍 Vue Cinema – Autism-Friendly Screenings
Held monthly (usually the last Sunday morning of the month). Sound and lighting are adjusted, and trailers are removed to create a more comfortable and relaxed cinema experience. Vue also offer free tickets for carers, which can make visits more accessible for families.

📍 Aura Leisure Lucan
A family-friendly leisure centre with a gym, 25-metre swimming pool, learner and children’s pools, fitness classes, and children’s gymnastics. Family swim sessions and children’s swimming lessons are also available. An accompanying adult/carer is currently free when accompanying a person with a disability to the pool.

Supermarkets & Shopping

Larger supermarkets can be busy and overstimulating at times. Visiting during off-peak hours can help create a more comfortable experience. Some stores offer quieter hours or autism-friendly adjustments, which can make shopping more manageable.

📍 Marks & Spencer – Sensory-Friendly Shopping
Day: Sunday
Time: 10am-11am
Adjustment: dimmed lighting, no music or announcements, lowered till sounds, and shelves are not restocke

📍 Aldi – Autism-Friendly Hours
Day: Tuesday
Time: 6:30pm–8:30pm
Adjustments: no in-store announcements, reduced noise levels, and dimmed lighting

📍 Lidl – Autism-Friendly Hours
Day: Tuesday
Time: 6pm–8pm
Adjustments: reduced lighting, no music or announcements, lower till sounds, priority queuing

📍 Tesco – Quiet Hours
Days: Wednesday and Saturday
Time: 9am–10am
Adjustments: reduced lighting and lower noise levels, as well as many other supports

📍 SuperValu Lucan
Day: Tuesday
Time: 7pm–9pm
Adjustments: reduced noise and lighting

SuperValu’s autism-friendly programme also includes sensory information to help families prepare for a visit – including sounds that may be heard in different parts of the shop and sensory maps showing areas associated with noise, lighting, smells, cold, and touch.

Help Us Build This

We’re building this local guide over time. If you know of a group, activity, or place in Lucan that could help other families, you can share it with us below.