Kilkenny community started in May 1978 when we officially opened Moorefield house, our first L'Arche house in the country. Back then we had two Core Members, a community leader and an assistant. This was the beginning of L'Arche in Ireland. And what a memorable one! Jean Vanier and his sister Thérèse were personally involved in its foundation, together with the people of Kilmoganny, Co. Kilkenny, where Moorefield House is located. Today, Callan town has become host to the larger part of the community.

During the past forty years the community has grown so that today L’Arche Kilkenny includes four residential houses, a Café, four Independent Living Core Member houses, a garden workshop and a craft workshop. Our houses are home to 14 people with an intellectual disability and their international volunteer assistants. We also offer a respite facility. Recently four of our long-term Core Members, Nora, Helen, Mary and Frances, achieved independent living status. They are very happy to have achieved such a major step in their lives.

Our Community:

We are a community of people who mutually share our daily life and work together. We support our Core Members’ overall well being, through enablement, advocacy, promotion of self-advocacy, social interactions, spiritual enablement and with attention to personal well being and health. 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 young and old, with or without intellectual disabilities, all have their part to play according to their own particular 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 and other Christian Services, meal times, quiet prayer times, and special times in the Christian calendar.

Contact Details

Tel: +353 (0) 56 7725628
Email: admin@larchekilkenny.ie
Cluain Aoibhinn
Fairgreen Lane
Callan,
Co. Kilkenny