HSE features in Dungarvan based Social Farming programme

The HSE Dublin and South East mental health services were delighted to be part of a recent visit by the Minister of State for Mental Health Mary Butler T.D. to a “Social Farm” close to Dungarvan, Co. Waterford.

Arranged by the Social Farming Ireland organisation, who run the national network, and hosted by the O’ Grady family on their farm at Ballygagin, Dungarvan, service users from the Seabreeze mental health high support community residence in Dungarvan were delighted to be there and meet the Minister.

Throughout the country, the Social Farming Ireland organisation provides people who use services, such as the HSE’s mental health services, with the opportunity for inclusion, to increase self-esteem and to improve health and well-being by taking part in day to day farm activities on an ordinary, family farm.

There are eight farms in Co. Waterford that participate in Social Farming Ireland programmes. The arrangement coordinated by Social Farming Ireland with the HSE and the O’ Grady family farm in Dungarvan, sees a visit by residents of Seabreeze hosted one day per week on the farm.

Clinical Nurse Manager 2 at Seabreeze, Willie Browne, who was present for the Minister’s visit at the farm, said:

“The role and function of Seabreeze, as a high support community residence in the HSE Dublin and South East’s mental health services, is to enhance the personal autonomy of adults with enduring mental illness and to enable those individual to lead as fulfilling a life as possible. This is very much complimented by our participation in the Social Farming Ireland programme and its facilitation here by the O’ Grady family.”

Built at a cost of €6.4 million, developed on a stand-alone 1.9 acre site and officially opened last year by Minister Butler, Seabreeze was nominated in the healthcare projects category of the Irish Building and Design Awards 2025. Seabreeze comprises of two blocks hosting 10 en-suite single bedrooms and two apartments, with an adjoining third block featuring communal facilities and administrative offices.