Going to the playground is a big part of childhood – they offer fun equipment for kids to enjoy and play on. But if you have a child with special needs, then a trip to a playground is a whole different experience. Good news, these fun playgrounds in Ireland are also inclusive!

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Families with children who have special needs, whether it be that your child is in a wheelchair or has sensory disorders, can find playground access tricky. The equipment only seems to have been designed for children able to climb and run.

Things are slowly changing, and more equipment is being installed to allow children of all needs to play.

We’ve broken down the list of inclusive playgrounds by county, so you can find your nearest playground to enjoy.

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Discover These Fantastic Inclusive Playgrounds in Ireland

Inclusive Playgrounds in Carlow

Oak Park Forest Park, Carlow

Oak Park Forest Park has an accessible playground with swings including a wheelchair swing and slides. After a play, you can head off for a walk in the park – there are colour-coded trails, with wheelchair-accessible surfaces, including a looped boardwalk.

Inclusive Playgrounds in Clare

Lahinch Playground, Clare

Lahinch Playground has a wheelchair swing and a merry go round that is wheelchair accessible.

O’Regan Park, Clare

There is a Sensory Garden at O’Regan Park in Newmarket on Fergus, which is an all-inclusive area in the Park aimed as a sanctuary.

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Inclusive Playgrounds in Cork

Clonakilty Playground

Clonakilty Playground has a wheelchair-friendly swing.

Cobh Playground

The playground in Cobh offers a wheelchair-friendly swing.

Fitzgerald Park, Cork

This disability-friendly playground is wheelchair accessible to most of the sensory equipment, there’s also a wheelchair roundabout. Its location is beautiful and the park has a café for refreshments.

Millstreet Playground

The playground at Millstreet is very inclusive with an extra wide slide, wheelchair accessible roundabout and mum and baby swing.

Whitegate Playground

Whitegate Playground in East Cork has a wheelchair swing.

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Inclusive Playgrounds in Dublin

Blessington Street Basin Playground

Here the playground has a wheelchair accessible roundabout and a high-backed swing.

Cabinteely Park

The playground here has a colourful play panel and a large net swing.

Carysfort Playground

Carysfort Playground on Carysfort Avenue in Blackrock is small but it has a bucket seat swing and nice slide with steps leading up as opposed to a ladder.

Malahide Castle Playground

At the playground at Malahide Castle you will find a large net swing and a mother and baby swing.

Newbridge House

The spacious and exciting playground at Newbridge House hosts a large multi-play sensory unit for wheelchair users.

Rathcoole Playground

There is a wheelchair accessible swing in Rathcoole Park, located a few minutes from Avoca.

Rush Playground

Rush Harbour playground features a universal access design for all abilities, including a multi-play unit and swing with stunning views of the bay.

St. Catherines Park

St. Catherines Park located in Lucan Demesne has a wheelchair accessible maze.

Sean Walsh Park

The Tallaght central playground has a bucket swing and a sensory garden nestled between two gorgeous ponds.

Springhill Park Playground

The playground at Springhill Park just of Newtownpark Avenue is small but has a bucket seat swing, a net swing, as well as a slide with steps leading up as opposed to a ladder.

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Inclusive Playgrounds in Galway

Athenry Playground

There is a wheelchair accessible merry-go-round at Athenry Playground.

Doughiska Playground

There’s an inclusive rocker at the playground at Doughiska. You can park for free along the side of the park and walk over to the playground.

Millennium Children’s Park, Galway City

The playground at the Millennium Children’s Park, located next to Galway Cathedral includes an inclusive swing. Parking at the Cathedral itself or there’s a car park to the back of the Cathedral.

Inclusive Playgrounds in Kerry

Knockreer Playground

The Knockreer Playground in Killarney has been specially designed for inclusivity. The roundabout allows space for wheelchairs and assisted devices. The play tower offers stepped access and a double width slide. Rich colours differentiate the area for children with autism along with textured surfaces and play spheres for a sensory experience.

Tralee Town Park

The playground in Tralee Town Park has specialised play equipment for children with disabilities and special needs, including a wheelchair roundabout.

Inclusive Playgrounds in Kildare

Clane Village Playground

Clane Village Playground has a wheelchair swing and keys are available from Country Market and Discount Store. It offers two designated play-areas for toddler and one for older kids.

Eadestown GAA

Eadestown GAA have created a designated time for children with additional needs and disabilities who wish to play in the playground. The aim is to provide children with additional needs as much space and confidence in physical distancing as possible and enjoy and have fun in safety. The allocated time period of between 9am-11am every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and Sundays 9am-10am is now RESERVED for children with additional needs and disabilities and their families.

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Inclusive Playgrounds in Kilkenny

Kilkenny Castle Playground

The playground at Kilkenny Castle has a sensory wall designed for children with special needs and a wheelchair accessible roundabout.

Inclusive Playgrounds in Laois

Durrow Playground

At Durrow Playground there is a chair swing for kids that have mobility challenges.

Inclusive Playgrounds in Limerick

Mungret Playground

The play equipment at Mungret Playground is suitable for both able and non able bodied children and there is a sensory area for children on the autistic spectrum. It has wheelchair accessible swings and roundabouts.

Manor Fields

The award-winning playground at Manor Fields in Adare is the first All-Abilities Playground in Limerick City and County, specifically designed to encourage inclusive play.

You’ll find a wheelchair friendly trampoline, swings, play tables and more. Bring a picnic to enjoy afterwards.

Inclusive Playgrounds in Mayo

Ballina Playground

The playground in Ballina has a wheelchair accessible roundabout, swing seat for special needs and basket nest swing, as well as an extra wide slide on the big play structure so adults can accompany small and children with special needs down the slide.

Inclusive Playgrounds in Meath

Clane Playground

The playground in Clane has a wheelchair accessible swing.

Kells Playground

This large spacious playground includes some wheelchair-accessible and sensory equipment.

Trim Playground

The playground in Trim features a sensory wall and wheelchair swing. You’ll find a pay and display car park next to the playground.

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Inclusive Playgrounds in Offaly

Tullamore Playground

Tullamore town playground has a wheelchair accessible swing.

Inclusive Playgrounds in Tipperary

Birdhill Children’s Park

In Birdhill you will find a special safe space “The Nook” for children who may be experiencing sensory overload. This woodland park has a fairy theme and a Wishing Chair.

Clonmel Playground

In Clonmel there is a sensory playground designed to be a fun and safe environment to play for children across all spectrums of special needs. There is a wheelchair friendly swing.

Fethard Playground

At Fethard you’ll find a “Sensory Musical Garden” aimed at children (and adults) with intellectual and physical disabilities, though all are welcome.

Nenagh Playground

Nenagh Town Park has a wheelchair accessible swing.

Inclusive Playgrounds in Waterford

Tramore Inclusion Park Playground

The Tramore Inclusion Park Playground aims to create a safe play environment for children of all physical and intellectual abilities. It features extra wide slides, ramps and a wheelchair friendly swing.

Inclusive Playgrounds in Wexford

Enniscorthy Playground

The playground in Enniscorthy beside the Riverside Park Hotel has a swing for wheelchairs.

Inclusive Playgrounds in Wicklow

Greystones South Beach Playground

This all-inclusive playground which caters for children of all abilities features an ability swing, bucket seat swing, a sensory path and a wheelchair-accessible sand factory.

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Inclusive Playgrounds in NI

Portstewart Diversity Park, Derry

The Portstewart Diversity Park located in the grounds of Flowerfield Arts Centre has a specially designed sensory play park with wheelchair swing, bucket swing seat and sunken trampoline. The bathroom at the Arts Centre also offers a hoist.

Slieve Gullion, Armagh

There is a Sensory Trail at Slieve Gullion designed for children and adults with additional sensory needs.

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Have your say! Have you been to any inclusive playgrounds with your child that we have missed? Leave a comment below and let us know – we’d love to hear from you!