Is Maynooth autism friendly?

Yes. In 2024, Maynooth earned Autism Friendly Town status from AsIAm, Ireland’s autism charity. It was the second town in Ireland to receive it, after Clonakilty. Local businesses, clubs and services have trained as Autism Friendly Champions, and the town has introduced Ireland’s first shop-by-shop communication boards, a sensory tour of Maynooth Castle and a range of inclusive clubs.

Maynooth is a lively university town in north Kildare, home to Maynooth University, a historic castle and a busy main street. It’s also a town that has thought hard about how to include everyone, and its work has inspired other communities, including nearby Enfield, to follow.

This guide covers how Maynooth got there, what autism friendly means in the town, and the places, clubs and events where autistic children, teenagers, adults and their families can expect a warmer, more understanding welcome.

Status: AsIAm Autism Friendly Town

Awarded: 2024, the second in Ireland

Run by: Maynooth Autism Friendly Town (MAFT), a volunteer committee

Supported by: AsIAm, Kildare County Council and LCDC Kildare

More information: maynoothautismfriendly.com

How Maynooth became autism friendly

Maynooth Autism Friendly Town (MAFT) is a volunteer committee working with AsIAm, with support from Kildare County Council. It officially launched in 2023, after running its first Sensory Santa the Christmas before.

The committee set about recruiting and training Champions across the town, from banks and shops to sports clubs and schools. It also started hang-outs for autistic adults, ran autism-friendly events such as a quiet zone at the St Patrick’s Day parade, and raised funds for a sensory garden.

At the AsIAm Autism Friendly Town Awards in 2024, Maynooth took home the top award, becoming the first town to earn Autism Friendly status since Clonakilty in 2018. In 2025, it also won a Sensory Accessibility Award, and the committee shared its experience with other communities at the awards.

Maynooth’s success has had an impact well beyond the town. AsIAm has since presented to Kildare County Council on the steps towards making Kildare Ireland’s first Autism Friendly County.

What does autism friendly mean in Maynooth?

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

Maynooth’s Champions are local businesses, clubs and services that have completed AsIAm training and made simple changes to support autistic customers and visitors. The committee has also gone further, with projects that make communication and community life easier for everyone:

• communication boards in local businesses
• mobile sensory tents for community events
• inclusive clubs in sport and music
• work with local employers through AsIAm’s Collaborative Employer programme and careers fairs
  
  
  

Autism friendly places and activities in Maynooth

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

Communication boards

Maynooth is home to what MAFT describes as a first-of-its-kind initiative in Ireland: communication boards tailored to individual shops. Each board shows pictures of that business’s products, services and common questions, so people who are non-speaking or minimally speaking, autistic people, young children and older adults can point to say what they need.

The first boards are at:

• Life Credit Union Maynooth, which supported the project
• Maynooth Bookshop

More businesses are being added. Look for the communication board sticker in the window.

Maynooth Castle sensory tour

MAFT worked with the OPW, Maynooth University and the Maynooth 850 group to create a sensory tour of Maynooth Castle. It’s designed to help autistic visitors and people with sensory sensitivities enjoy the castle comfortably, with sensory-aware guidance. The castle also has its own communication board for visitors.

The tour has run as part of local festivals, including Maynooth University’s Arts and Minds Festival in May 2026. Check MAFT’s social media or the castle for upcoming dates.

Inclusive clubs and groups

Maynooth has a great range of clubs that welcome children and adults of all abilities:

• Maynooth GAA All Stars: Gaelic games for players of all abilities
• North Kildare Eagles: basketball for all
• Skylarks: inclusive tag rugby
• Comhaltas Maynooth: Irish traditional music for all ages and abilities, including an all-ability bodhrán class, on Wednesdays at 7pm at Maynooth Post Primary
• Maynooth Community College Infinity Group

Contact each club, or MAFT, for current details.

Events through the year

MAFT runs autism-friendly events through the year. Regular highlights include:

• Sensory Santa, a calm, relaxed Christmas visit
• a quiet zone at the St Patrick’s Day parade
• Picnic in the Park in the summer
• events during Autism Acceptance Month each April
• mobile sensory tents, so local events can offer a calm space

The committee has also organised bowling at Airtastic in Celbridge, and the town hosts a Maynooth Town Celebration Day. Follow MAFT on social media for upcoming dates.

Support for autistic adults

Many autism supports focus on children, so Maynooth’s AsIAm hang-outs for autistic adults stand out. They were one of the achievements highlighted when the town earned its Autism Friendly status. Contact MAFT or AsIAm for current dates and venues.

Local Champions

Maynooth’s Champions include banks, shops, cafés, sports clubs, schools and community groups. Among them are:

• Life Credit Union
• AIB, Bank of Ireland and PTSB
• Maynooth Bookshop
• Gildeas Opticians
• OB1 Hairdressers
• O’Neill’s Bar and Restaurant
• Zambrero
• Glenroyal
• Maynooth GAA, Maynooth Town FC and North Kildare RFC
• Maynooth Community College
• Maynooth Girl Guides

The full, up-to-date list is on the MAFT website.

Calm spaces outdoors 

Maynooth has a community sensory garden beside the Pastoral Centre, near the church, created by Maynooth Tidy Towns with plenty of seating. It’s a peaceful spot to take a break from the busy main street.

Planning an autism friendly day out in Maynooth

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

• Look for communication board stickers. They show which businesses have a board you can use to point and ask.
• Pick your timing. Maynooth is busiest during university term and at weekends. Weekday mornings and summer months are usually calmer.
• Try the castle sensory tour. It’s a gentle way to explore Maynooth’s history.
• Join an inclusive club. There are options in GAA, basketball, rugby and music.
• Take a break in the sensory garden. It’s close to the main street if someone needs some quiet.
• Ask staff. Champions have had autism training and are happy to help.
  
  
  

FAQ’s

Is Maynooth an autism friendly town? Yes. Maynooth earned Autism Friendly Town status from AsIAm, Ireland’s autism charity, in 2024. It was the second town in Ireland to receive it, after Clonakilty.

What are the communication boards in Maynooth? They are picture boards tailored to each business, so non-speaking and minimally speaking people can point to ask questions and say what they need. The first are at Life Credit Union Maynooth and Maynooth Bookshop. Look for the sticker in the window.

Is there a sensory tour of Maynooth Castle? Yes. Maynooth Autism Friendly Town worked with the OPW, Maynooth University and Maynooth 850 to create a sensory tour of Maynooth Castle. The castle also has its own communication board.

Are there inclusive sports clubs in Maynooth? Yes. They include Maynooth GAA All Stars, North Kildare Eagles basketball for all and Skylarks inclusive tag rugby. Comhaltas Maynooth also runs all-ability traditional music classes.

Are there supports for autistic adults in Maynooth? Yes. Maynooth has hosted AsIAm hang-outs for autistic adults, which was one of the achievements recognised when the town earned its Autism Friendly status.

How can a business in Maynooth become an Autism Friendly Champion? Contact Maynooth Autism Friendly Town through maynoothautismfriendly.com or at autismfriendlytownmaynooth@gmail.com. Champions complete AsIAm training and make simple sensory adaptations.

Find autism friendly things to do in Kildare

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

Do you run an autism friendly class, club or activity in Maynooth or Kildare? 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.