Is Drumcondra autism friendly?

Yes. In 2025, Drumcondra earned Autism Friendly status from AsIAm, Ireland’s autism charity. It was the first community in Dublin, and the first village in Ireland, to receive the award. Around 20 local businesses and services are Autism Friendly Champions, and the local committee runs a social club, cinema outings and sensory-friendly days for autistic children and their families.

Drumcondra is one of Dublin’s best-loved northside villages, with its cafés, shops, schools and a university campus, and Croke Park right on its doorstep. On match days and concert nights, it can be one of the busiest places in the country. That makes the work of its autism-friendly committee all the more impressive.

This guide covers how Drumcondra got there, what autism friendly means locally, and the places where autistic children, teenagers, adults and their families can expect a calmer, more understanding welcome.

Status: AsIAm Autism Friendly Village

Awarded: 2025, the first in Dublin and the first village in Ireland

Champions: Around 20 local businesses, organisations and services

Run by: Drumcondra Autism Friendly Village Committee, led by local parents

How Drumcondra became autism friendly

Drumcondra Autism Friendly Village is a volunteer group led by local parents of autistic children. They came together because they wanted their children to feel understood and included in their own neighbourhood.

The committee started close to home, with support for families. It set up a social club for school-age autistic children, monthly support meetings for parents, monthly cinema outings for autistic children and their families, and a WhatsApp group where parents share tips and advice.

At the same time, it brought local businesses and services on board. Around 20 completed AsIAm training and committed to making their spaces more accessible. In 2025, at the AsIAm Autism Friendly Towns Awards in the Mansion House, Drumcondra became the first community in Dublin to earn Autism Friendly status, alongside Waterford and Killarney.

Drumcondra’s success has helped spark change across the capital. Dublin City Council’s Autism Friendly Action Plan 2026 to 2028 aims to support an Autism Friendly committee in each of the city’s local areas and make Dublin the world’s first recognised Autism Friendly capital city. In 2026, Terenure joined Drumcondra as Dublin’s second Autism Friendly community.

What does autism friendly mean in Drumcondra?

An autism-friendly village thinks about the small things that can make an ordinary day hard, like noise, crowds, waiting and not knowing what to expect.

Drumcondra’s Champions are local businesses, organisations and services that have:

• completed autism training with AsIAm
• made changes to improve accessibility for autistic customers and visitors
• committed to supporting the committee’s work

Alongside the Champions, the committee runs its own activities for autistic children and families, so there’s support in both the shops and the community.

Autism friendly places in Drumcondra

These are the places with published autism-friendly features. Supports can change, so it’s always worth checking before you go.

Drumcondra Library

Drumcondra Library is an Autism Friendly Champion. You can download a social story from the library’s web page, a short picture guide that shows you what to expect before you visit.

Like all Dublin City libraries, it has a sensory box for use in the library. Families can also borrow from Dublin City Libraries’ free Sensory Collection of sensory toys and assistive software, ordered through any branch. The library has ramped access, an accessible entrance and accessible toilet, and a hearing loop.

Where: Millmount Avenue, Dublin 9, D09 PT78

DCU St Patrick’s Campus

DCU is an Autism Friendly Champion in Drumcondra, and it was the world’s first designated autism-friendly university. Its St Patrick’s Campus in Drumcondra has a quiet space on the first floor of C-Block, reached by the stairs opposite the Auditorium. It’s designed with calming acoustics for anyone who feels overwhelmed, and it’s open to everyone.

DCU also has sensory pods on its campuses, which autistic people can request access to through the DCU Disability Service.

Croke Park sensory room

Croke Park is right beside Drumcondra, and since 2025 it has had a sensory room called Cú Chulainn’s Corner, in the GAA Museum. It’s for adults and children with sensory processing needs, or anyone who needs a break from the noise and crowds on match days.

How it works:

• it opens from when the stiles open until the final whistle of the last game
• it can’t be pre-booked; ask at a Customer Care booth on the Inner Cusack Concourse or the Hogan Level 3 concourse
• up to six people can use it at a time
• children must stay with a parent or guardian, and everyone signs a waiver
• it’s fragrance-free, and shoes aren’t allowed, so bring clean socks

Croke Park also has a free Match Day Visual Guide you can download before the game. The sensory room doesn’t operate during concerts.

Na Fianna GAA

Na Fianna, the local GAA club, is an Autism Friendly Champion. The club has completed AsIAm training, making it a more welcoming place for autistic children who want to try Gaelic games.

Shops and services

Other Drumcondra Champions include:

• Bank of Ireland Drumcondra
• Keane’s Pharmacy
• Shouk restaurant
• Angel Wings Beauty
• Curtain Workshop and Interiors
• iMend
• Drumcondra Triangle Residents Association

They’re among the 20 or so local businesses and organisations that have completed AsIAm training.

Activities for autistic children and families

The Drumcondra Autism Friendly Village Committee runs its own activities through the year:

• a social club for school-age autistic children
• monthly cinema outings for autistic children and their families
• Sensory Friendly Days during the Halloween, Christmas and summer holidays
• monthly support meetings for parents
• a WhatsApp group where parents share tips, advice and support

Contact the committee through its social media for current dates. Instagram @drumcondra_autism_friendly

Planning an autism friendly day out in Drumcondra

A little preparation makes a big difference. Here are some tips based on how local supports work:

• Check the Croke Park fixtures. On match and concert days, Drumcondra gets very busy. If crowds are hard, choose a quieter day to visit.
• Download social stories first. Drumcondra Library and Croke Park both have picture guides you can look at before you go.
• Know where the quiet spaces are. DCU’s St Patrick’s Campus and the Croke Park sensory room are there if someone needs a break.
• Borrow sensory toys. Dublin City Libraries’ Sensory Collection is free and can be ordered through Drumcondra Library.
• Join the committee’s events. The cinema outings and sensory days are a relaxed way to meet other families.
• Ask staff. Champions have had autism training and are happy to help.
  
  
  

FAQ’s

Is Drumcondra autism friendly? Yes. Drumcondra earned Autism Friendly status from AsIAm, Ireland’s autism charity, in 2025. It was the first community in Dublin, and the first village in Ireland, to receive the award.

Which businesses in Drumcondra are autism friendly? Around 20 local organisations have trained as Champions, including Drumcondra Library, Na Fianna GAA, DCU, Bank of Ireland Drumcondra, Keane’s Pharmacy and Shouk.

Is there a sensory room at Croke Park? Yes. Cú Chulainn’s Corner is a sensory room in the GAA Museum at Croke Park, open on match days for up to six people at a time. It can’t be pre-booked, so ask at a Customer Care booth on the day.

What autism friendly activities are there in Drumcondra? The committee has run a social club for school-age autistic children, monthly cinema outings for families and sensory-friendly days during the Halloween, Christmas and summer holidays.

Is there support for parents of autistic children in Drumcondra? Yes. The committee holds monthly support meetings for parents and runs a WhatsApp group where parents share tips and advice.

Is Dublin an autism friendly city? Not yet. Dublin City Council’s Autism Friendly Action Plan 2026 to 2028 aims to make Dublin the world’s first recognised Autism Friendly capital city.

Find autism friendly things to do in Dublin

Do Stuff! lists classes, activities and events across Dublin, with icons that show when an activity is accessible or can support additional needs. Browse What’s On in Dublin on Do Stuff! to plan your next day out.

Do you run an autism friendly class, club or activity in Drumcondra or Dublin 9? Help local families find you. Add Your Autism Friendly Activity to Do Stuff!

We aim to provide up-to-date, useful information to readers. Email contact@dostuff.ie if any information here needs updating, or to tell us about a new place we can add.