Cork store hailed for autism friendly initiative

A supermarket in West Cork has been hailed from as far away as Australia after it announced it would hold an autism-friendly shopping evening in its store.

Scally’s SuperValu in Clonakilty, more readily associated with food awards, will dim the lights, cut the music and turn off any loudspeaker announcements between 7pm and 9pm next Tuesday after a suggestion from a local woman who is a student in autism studies at University College Cork.

Patricia O’Leary, who is originally from Dublin but who has lived in Clonakilty for more than 20 years, made the request to Eugene Scally, who owns the SuperValu store on the edge of the seaside town. Patricia’s daughter, who is also a student, has also worked in the supermarket part-time.