A groundbreaking ceremony was held at St. John's Community Hospital in Enniscorthy to mark the start of construction on the Activity Garden project.

When completed, the garden will feature hedgerows, planting, and an amphitheater-style area, providing a multi-functional space for gatherings, health, and social activities within the HSE healthcare campus.

The project is supported by Wexford County Council's Culture and Creativity team and Age Friendly program, in partnership with the HSE, Creative Ireland, the Irish Architectural Foundation, and the Enniscorthy Men's Shed. Government funding through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme also made the development possible.

Minister of State James Browne TD, along with HSE representatives, attended the ceremony. Dr. Sinéad Reynolds, Integrated Healthcare Area Manager for Waterford/Wexford, Michelle Doyle, outgoing Acting Chief Officer, South East Community Healthcare, and Derval Howley, Head of Service for Health and Wellbeing, were among the speakers.

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Dr. Denise Rogers, who chaired the HSE staff group that initiated the project in 2020, addressed the audience, which included residents and users of the HSE facilities on the campus. Creative Ireland provided funding to support the design team, and Mick Mahon of the mental health staff and colleagues in the St. John's Healthy Campus Committee have been actively involved in related initiatives.

Cllr Aidan Browne, Cathaoirleach Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, represented Wexford County Council, along with Claire Lawless, District Manager, Neville Shaw, Executive Engineer, and Pat Fitzpatrick, Executive Technician.

Upon completion, the Activity Garden will offer patients, visitors, and HSE staff the opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities and events in a pleasant and welcoming space.

The HSE's campus in Munster Hill, Enniscorthy, houses a variety of services, including Millbrock (disability services day centre), Tús Nua (mental health rehabilitation unit), Millview (mental health residential care), Havenview (intellectual disabilities care centre), Adult Disability and Children's Disability Network Team facilities, An Tearman (mental health respite centre), the Wexford Vaccination Centre, the HSE's Health and Wellbeing service, the HSE's Primary Care/Social Inclusion and Substance Misuse Team services, St. John's Community Hospital, the Hubs for the Wexford Integrated Care Programme for Older Persons and the Wexford Memory Assessment and Support Service, and the St. John's Day Centre for Older People.

The Enniscorthy Men's Shed is also based on the campus. Monageer Contract Ltd will carry out the construction work, which will include an amphitheater-style central area, planting, hedgerows, and seating.