Obair Newmarket On Fergus

05/10/2026

As our celebrations get closer, all the old photos, stories and memories are starting to flood in — and we are absolutely loving them! 💙💛

Please keep sharing them with us. It’s amazing to look back and see what you, our community, have built in Obair over the years.

From small beginnings to where we are today:

⭐ 60 staff
⭐ 120 volunteers
⭐ Over 1,100 meals prepared every day
⭐ 180 children supported through our childcare, after-school and youth services
⭐ 20 community groups
⭐ And countless people and families supported along the way.

WOW! What a community. What a journey.

02/10/2026

#30 year celebrations random day with all our flock

01/10/2026

A bit of a sad day for community spirit today.

Unfortunately, we’ve had to make the decision to lock and barricade our bins at the crèche.

On Saturday, we discovered that an establishment from a neighbouring village had decided to offload not just one bag, but several bags of rubbish and other unwanted items into our crèche bins, leaving them overflowing.

What makes it more disappointing is that, had someone simply contacted us and asked for a little help, we probably would have obliged — that’s what good neighbours do.

28/09/2026

our own celebrating 25 years since newmarket won the county final

Next up we have Siobhan O Driscoll aka "Drickers".

Bridies pride and joy !! A big fan of the wrap around skirt !! Drickers never avoided a battle - especially if she had a flag in her hand !!

She made a comeback in the parish league a few years ago and put us all to shame - bagging goals while the rest of us were reaching for the deep heat !!
Drickers is the most resilient person you will meet, she takes on challenge after challenge . She always has a smile to share and a story to tell.
She is the driving force behind all things community related in Newmarket.
There really is no-one like Drickers.

27/09/2026

Today is a special day as our community comes together to support the Agricultural Show’s Tractor Run in aid of the KBRF, in Sconey’s name.
We hope everyone comes out to show their support, enjoy the day, have a laugh and share a few stories.
That’s exactly what Sconey would have wanted. He loved the craic, the laughter

25/09/2026

❤️💙 30 YEARS OF OBAIR – OUR PEOPLE, OUR COMMUNITY, OUR FAMILY 💙❤️

As we build up to our anniversary celebrations, we’re taking a look back through the years — and we’d love your help!

📸 We are looking for old Obair photographs.
If you have pictures from years gone by, please send them in to us. We want to remember the friends and characters who have been part of our story — those who have retired, moved on to new jobs, grown up, moved away and, very importantly, those who are sadly no longer with us.

One of the things that makes Obair so special is the number of families and generations who have been part of it. Parents, children, brothers, sisters, grandparents, cousins and friends have worked and volunteered alongside each other over the years.

And really, that is what Obair set out to be from that very first day on Main Street in Newmarket-on-Fergus — a community looking after its own and creating opportunities for the next generation.

From those early days to today, Obair has grown to almost 60 staff, an extensive range of community facilities and services, a county-wide Meals on Wheels service, healthy, local and nourishing School Meals, our Community Crèche, After-Schools and Post-Primary Youth Space, O’Regan Park, training and education programmes, community groups and more than 100 wonderful volunteers.

But buildings, vans, kitchens and programmes aren’t the heart of Obair.

People are. ❤️

From our voluntary Board and the people who helped start Obair 30 years ago, to our staff, volunteers, families and community — right down to one of the newest members of the Obair family, little Páidí in our Baby Room.

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing photographs, funny stories, memories and some of the wonderful characters who have made Obair what it is today.

So have a look through those old photo albums and phones! 📸

If you have an old Obair photo or a story that deserves to be remembered, please send it in to us.

Because after 30 years, one thing hasn’t changed:

Obair is our people.
Obair is our community.
Obair is family. ❤️💙

24/09/2026

💙 A Huge Thank You to JLPS Ireland Limited! 💙

A massive thank you to the fantastic team from JLPS Ireland Limited who spent their Company CSR Day with us today at O’Regan Park.

The team rolled up their sleeves and put in a tremendous day’s work, and they have the park looking absolutely fabulous! 🌳🌿👏

O’Regan Park is a free community amenity attracting around 20,000 visits each year, and keeping such a large public space maintained takes a huge amount of work.

As a community development organisation, much of Obair’s resources are focused on essential frontline services including our Meals on Wheels service and Community Crèche, so support like this from local companies makes a real difference.

Corporate Social Responsibility isn’t just about giving financial support — sometimes giving your time, your energy and a day’s hard work can have an enormous impact on a community.

To everyone from JLPS Ireland Limited who came out today: thank you. We really appreciate your hard work, community spirit and support for Obair and O’Regan Park. 💙

From all of us at Obair — THANK YOU JLPS Ireland Limited! 👏👏👏
and a thank you as always to our own Siobhan Griff, Nathan, Orla Meehan, Eimear, Erica, Fintin and Jennie

23/09/2026

‼️ INFORMATION WARNING FOR PARENTS & GUARDIANS ‼️

We need to be aware of the illegal and potentially dangerous v**es circulating among young people.

They are turning up around schools, school buses, playgrounds and other places where teenagers gather. Young people can obtain v**es through other individuals and illicit sellers, and some products may contain substances very different from what is stated on the packaging.

The HSE issued a warning in August 2026 after testing v**e products obtained from both shops and illicit sources in Ireland. Testing identified products containing HHC and related substances, cannabis compounds and potent synthetic cannabinoids. Some products were also mislabelled.

These substances can cause serious effects, including confusion, hallucinations, severe anxiety, agitation and psychotic symptoms.

Parents and guardians: please talk to your children about what they are va**ng and where it is coming from. A brightly coloured v**e that looks like an ordinary ni****ne v**e does not tell you what is actually inside it.

If you become aware of people selling or supplying illegal drugs or drug-containing v**es to children, report the information to An Garda Síochána. ps biggest market to sell in is SNAPCHAT

21/09/2026

wonderful initiative

18/09/2026

🇮🇪✨ ALL ROADS LEAD TO DROMOLAND FOR OBAIR — 17TH OCTOBER 2026 ✨🇮🇪

What a day this is going to be for Obair and our community.

On Saturday, 17th October, we will have the enormous honour of celebrating with the President of Ireland as we officially launch our state-of-the-art Tradaree Social Enterprise Centre and mark 30 years of Obair serving our community.

And then, that evening, all roads lead to Dromoland Castle as our volunteers, staff, community groups, corporate partners and friends come together to celebrate everything that has been achieved.

Tradaree is now home to our new Meals on Wheels kitchens, alongside spaces supporting community social enterprises and start-ups — a vision that became a reality because so many people believed in what Obair could achieve.

We will celebrate our Pride of Place success, our new Tradaree Centre and 30 years of Obair — but most importantly, we will celebrate our people.

❤️ Our volunteers are the heartbeat of our Meals on Wheels service.

Week in, week out, they give their time freely to make sure meals reach older and vulnerable people every single day.

We also want to recognise the community groups, funders and organisations that have walked this journey with us, including Town and Village Renewal, LEADER and Tomar Trust, and everyone who helped turn the vision for Tradaree into reality.

A huge thank you to our dedicated staff, our wonderful community partners, and especially our CSR and corporate supporters, whose generosity is helping make our Gala Dinner possible.

From welcoming the President of Ireland to Tradaree to celebrating together that evening with our neighbours at Dromoland Castle, the 17th October will be a day to remember.

30 years of Obair.
30 years of community.
30 years of people helping people.

🇮🇪 Tradaree → Dromoland Castle | Saturday, 17th October 2026 🥂

❤️ Thank you for helping Obair help our community.

All roads lead to Dromoland.