Our Founding Story
Our story began in 1964 when a group of dedicated parents and friends came together with a heartfelt mission: to provide services to people with a mental handicap in County Longford. This desire and passion came from listening to parents of children in the area having to send their sons and daughters to institutions in other counties to receive services.
This journey led to the establishment of the Longford Associations of Parents and Friends of Mentally Handicapped Children.
The earlier years were crucial for founding members, led by Mrs. Sylvia Dawson. The committee reached out to families and interested parties of the County of Longford to come together to gain recognition and develop services for individuals with intellectual disabilities within the community.
After a year of organising meetings and guest speakers, the Association made a breakthrough in March 1966, when they were offered two rooms in the Temperance Hall, Longford, as a temporary Day Centre. In addition, a qualified teacher offered her services. This was the first day service in the county Longford and was officially opened in June 1966 with five children on the opening morning.
In January 1967, the Community of the Sisters of Mercy kindly made available their Domestic Economy Kitchen for Saturday morning sessions giving the children, voluntary teachers and helpers much more needed space.
In June 1967, the Day Centre relocated once again, this time to the old disused primary school at Clonahard, chosen for its more welcoming outdoor space and much to the delight of the children.
This was followed by a dedicated Day Centre prefabricated building in Killashee Street. This construction was funded by the Association’s voluntary funds and the foundations were laid by voluntary labour.
St. Christopher’s Special School initially opened its doors on December 11th, 1968, and welcomed its first four pupils. By Easter 1969, the number of students had increased to fifteen. The school was formally opened on 11th October 1969, and blessed by Bishop Cathal Daly.
Mrs. Dawson, reflecting on the early days, expressed,
“St. Christophers was a cheerful, welcoming place, where mothers and fathers were given tea or coffee in the little office while a son or daughter tentatively explored the small world of activities in the adjoining classrooms (Mrs. Dawson, 1999).”
However, Mrs. Dawson supported by a passionate management committee battled tirelessly with state bodies to gain official recognition for the services. Progress was painfully slow, and the response was quite negative. Despite this discouraging attitude, the Association pressed on.
In 1972, the three-story building on the Battery Road, was purchased. The securing of this property marked the development of a new Care Unit for severely handicapped children and those unable to progress to school. It also provided a Workshop for school leavers, forming what is now known as St. Christophers Services Ltd. This new facility became a source of inspiration within our community.
St Christopher’s Services CLG with the support of the people of the County of Longford and statutory agencies has grown significantly over the years and currently provides care to approximately 130 adults and 20 children. The organisation offers both day and residential services across multiple sites in County Longford.
Our organisation strives to develop high-quality, innovative, and comprehensive services for people with intellectual disabilities. We recognize that every individual we serve has the unique ability to share their story and realize their dreams. Our services provide personalized support tailored to each person’s journey, with the aim of empowering every service user to reach their full potential.
What sets us apart is our person-centred approach, innovative programmes, active community collaboration, strong advocacy for inclusivity, and over six decades of experience. These distinctive qualities, combined with our unwavering commitment and passionate staff position St. Christopher’s Services as a leader in the field of intellectual disability support.
