The Butterfly Club, operating in Rathkeale since September 2004 and Abbeyfeale since 2009, is a social club for children and teenagers with special needs and caters for those aged 3 years and up from all areas of Limerick.
The Butterfly Club is a voluntary organisation. Our aim is to provide leisure activities in a safe, fun filled environment for children and young adults with special needs, while providing respite for parents/guardians.
In 2004 we started with 3 groups based in Coláiste na Trócaire, Rathkeale. Each group had it's own Saturday each month. When Croí na nÓg was built we moved our club into it.
In 2009 we expanded to Abbeyfeale where a club was set up. This meant that children from the locality didn't have to travel to Rathkeale, they were able to attend the club in Abbeyfeale. It also frees up spaces in the Rathkeale club so that new children can join in both Rathkeale and Abbeyfeale.
Our Saturday club is now divided into 5 groups. Each group of children attend club once a month from 1pm – 5pm. 4 of the groups which includes a Youth Club are based in Croí na nÓg, Rathkeale and one other club is based in Abbeyfeale.
Due to the growing needs of the number of children wishing to attend the club we have now grown into a club with 63 children.
Rathkeale Industrial Estate,, Rathkeale, Ireland
