Unique approach to people with special needs on island

THE gift of a site by Gaelic football legend Mick O’Connell and his wife, Rosaleen, has helped provide Valentia, Co Kerry, with a €1.2 million home for six people with special needs who from the area.

Located close to the O’Connell family home on the island, Tig an Oileáin, overlooks the Atlantic with the spectacular Sceilig Mhichil and the Great Blasket Island in the distance.

A local committee, under the chairmanship of Donal O’Donoghue, helped raise €600,000 and grants from the Department of the Environment and other statutory bodies made up the balance of the cost.