8th February 2026

This month’s spotlight is on Cali Centres CLG.

– Location: Newtownmountkennedy Community Centre
– Audience: Young Adults with severe to profound intellectual disabilities.
– Main objectives: Cali provides a programme where adults with a severe to profound intellectual disability can engage in lifelong learning to maximise their knowledge, skills, independence and ability to engage more fully with their communities. It also enables them to lead happier and fulfilled lives of their choosing.
– Creation date: 2024
– Committee members: Board of Directors
– Number of participants: 4
– Open to new members: Yes, but they must come through the HSE referral system.
– Contact details: Anne King at anne.king@cali.ie

Cali’s website is www.cali.ie

03 November 2025

This month’s spotlight is on Newtown’s Sensory Stars.

– Location: Newtownmountkennedy Community Centre
– Meet: Parents meet monthly. Starting family meet ups soon (hopefully 23rd November)
– Audience: all ages
– Main objectives: spread awareness, provide support, decrease feeling of loneliness and promote town inclusion.
– Creation date: The first meeting took place on 22nd September 2025, although it was in Aoife’s mind for the last year.
– Committee members: Aoife Nolan and Ann-Marie Kelly
– Number of members: 12 so far
– Open to new members: yes, all welcome
– Membership fees: none
– Main goals for this year: make community events more inclusive for the whole family, awareness, provide parents with support.
– Main events this year: we will be at the Christmas Lights Turn On, we have an occupational therapist coming to our next meeting, first family meet up in the next few weeks.

Newtown’s Sensory Stars have a Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/768069322673569

04 October 2025

It was decided at a recent Community Forum meeting that the Forum Committee would highlight a local group in our community every month.

We are starting this spotlight with the Irish Countrywomen’s Association, also known as the ICA.

– Location: Newtownmountkennedy Community Centre
– Meet: first Monday of the month
– Audience: women
– Main objectives: bring together women and their communities, fostering friendship, fellowship and sharing interests.
– Creation date: the ICA was created in 1910, with the Newtownmountkennedy Guild being created in 1951.
– Number of members: 7
– Open to new members: yes, always
– Membership fees: €50 per year
– Main goals for this year: welcome new members, learn new skills / crafts.
– Main events this year: annual cake sale, organise Christmas party for senior citizens, picnic day out.
– Additional information: they compete in Federation Arts and Crafts competitions and the National Brown Bread competition.
Contact information:
www.ica.ie
office@ica.ie
01 6680002