Secretariat, Cluain Aoibhinn
Fairgreen Lane, Callan
Co. Kilkenny  Ireland
+353 (0)56 7725283


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Identity

We are people with and without intellectual disabilities, sharing life in communities belonging to an international federation.
Mutual relationships and trust in God are at the heart of our journey together
We celebrate the unique value of every person and recognize our need of one another.

Mission

To make known the gifts of people with intellectual disabilities revealed through mutually transforming relationships.
To engage in our diverse cultures, working together to build a more humane society.
To foster an environment in communities that is inspired by the core values of our founding story and that responds to the changing needs of our members.

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Contact Information

L'Arche Ireland Secretariat
"Cluain Aoibhinn"
Fairgreen Lane, Callan
Co. Kilkenny  Ireland
+353 (0)56 7725283


L'Arche Belfast
563 Ormeau Road
Belfast BT73JA
Northern Ireland
Tel: +44 (0)28 90221337
Fax: +44 (0)28 90872992

www.larchebelfast.org.uk

L'Arche Cork
"Le Cheille"
Togher, Cork 4
Tel: +353 (0)21 4318880
Fax: +353 (0)21 4318883


L'Arche Dublin
8 Warrenhouse Road
Baldoyle, Dublin 13
Tel: +353 (0)1 8394356
Fax: +353 (0)1 8395897

www.larchedublin.org

L'Arche Kilkenny
"Cluain Aoibhinn"
Faiargreen Lane
Callan, County Kilkenny
Tel/fax: +353 (0)56 7725628

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Community Pages
Other Links
L'Arche Kilkenny

Kilkenny L'Arche Kilkenny
"Cluain Aoibhinn"
Faiargreen Lane
Callan, County Kilkenny
Tel/fax: +353 (0)56 7725628



L'Arche Kilkenny

Community Members Established in 1978 with four Core Members and their Assistants, L’Arche Kilkenny was the first L'Arche community to be formed in Ireland. Jean Vanier and his sister Thrésé were personally involved in its foundation together with the people of Kilkenny. The community is within a short bus ride from the city of Kilkenny and is mostly based in the rural town of Callan.

During the past thirty-plus years the community has grown so that today L’Arche Kilkenny includes four residential houses, a Café, a garden workshop and a craft workshop. Our houses are home to 12 people with an intellectual disability and their international volunteer assistants. Our workshops give meaning and are a teaching venue for twenty-one people, our core members, enabled by employed staff. Café L’Arche is a special project, where our core members interact with the local community in a safe and comfortable environment. Along with offering healthy eating options, it also provides a wonderful opportunity to foster public awareness concerning the ability, welcome and friendship of our core members and assistants.

Recently one of our long-term Core Members, Helen, achieved independent living status. She is very happy to have achieved such a major step in her life (read Helen's story on the Our Stories page).
It is also our vision for the future, that a long awaited fifth house will soon open with additional semi-independent living facilities. These are exciting times in L’Arche Kilkenny.

Community Life

Community Members We are a community of people who mutually share our daily life and work together. We support our Core Members overall well-being: physically, mentally, and spiritually. Our desire is to develop mutual relationships and make home together, through work, socializing and sharing our spiritual journey. We promote friends with people who are different – in culture, language, beliefs, religious affiliation, intellectual ability. This requires a flexibility and openness of heart and mind. We welcome people new or old, with or without intellectual disabilities, all have their part to play according to their own paticular and individual gifts.

Though lived in a simple way,faith is an integral aspect of our daily community life . While the faith tradition of the community is within the Irish Catholic context, we welcome and respect each member’s faith tradition or none. We accept the challenge of creating unity within our diversity. Being a community of faith, mutual relationships and trust in God, are at the heart of our life together. We pray together during the celebration of Mass, meal times, quiet prayer times, and special times in the Christian calendar.