Delight as Cork's Rainbow Club finally set to get a new home

After a long wait, Cork’s Rainbow Club is expected to secure a new home, in what the organisation says will be a “game-changer” for the future provision of much-needed services.

Founded by Karen O’Mahony and her husband Jon in 2015 as a response to their search for services for their two sons Stephen and Sean, the Rainbow Club provide skills, support and a community hub for children and young people with autism and their families.

The Rainbow Club, which currently occupies some of Mahon Community Centre, has been seeking a new home for several years.

It now looks set to secure that new home in a former health centre in Mahon which was previously in the ownership of the HSE and is now owned by Cork City Council.

It is understood Cork City Council will lease the property to the Rainbow Club, with the proposal expected to be ratified at a full council meeting soon.

The update was announced at the Rainbow Club’s 12th annual masquerade ball at Carrigaline Court Hotel on Saturday evening.

Game-changer

Speaking to The Echo, Karen O’Mahony said the organisation has been seeking a new home for a “long, long time” and that it will be a “game-changer” for the organisation.

Ms O’Mahony said the Rainbow Club would be keen to transform the former health centre premises, stating that State funding has been promised for an adaption.

“Pending discussions with the city council, there would be an adaption piece and hopefully then long term we could add to that to build a wonderful centre that would have everything under one roof,” she said.

“Moving 1,300 members and their families is a big, big thing to do and it’ll be done in a phased [basis],” she added.

Ms O’Mahony paid tribute to a number of public representatives, including Cork South Central TD and European Commissioner-Designate for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law Michael McGrath, Tánaiste Micheál Martin, Disabilities Minister Anne Rabbitte, Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North Central Pádraig O’Sullivan, and Fianna Fáil councillors Mary Rose Desmond and Terry Shannon, who she said have been “hugely supportive” of the club.

Commenting, Mr Martin said he was “delighted” that the Rainbow Club is on course to securing the lease on the former health centre.

“Since this site was identified over three years ago there has been significant work taking place to secure vacant possession of the health centre,” he said.

Vision

The Tánaiste commended Karen and Jon O’Mahony who he said “have gone above and beyond in bringing their vision for an inclusive and effective service to reality."

“I know that the board of the Rainbow Club have well advanced their plans to transform the new premises, and I am delighted that with the Capital support secured by Minister Anne Rabbitte we should see these plans develop at pace.

“I know parents and families of children with autism face daily challenges in accessing services.

“I want to reassure them that I, along with my party colleagues Minister Anne Rabbitte and Pádraig O Sullivan, am committed to improving wait times and accessibility to services,” he continued.

Great news

Meanwhile councillor Terry Shannon said was “great news” for the Rainbow Club who he said “do a tremendous service for so many families, not just in Mahon and in Cork city but around the Southern Region”.

A spokesperson for Cork City Council said that at the end of September, the local authority “issued a call for expressions of interest in taking on the lease of the former Mahon Health Centre on Lakeland Crescent, Mahon”.

“The process involved an assessment board who this week reviewed the submissions of a number of groups from the community and voluntary sector.

“The submission of the Rainbow Club for Autism was deemed the strongest and as such, the assessment board will recommend awarding the lease (duration of 4 years and 9 months) to the Rainbow Club, subject to further information and full council approval”.