Roscommon LEADER Partnership:

    Family Resource Centre Background

    The Family Resource Centre in Castlerea Prison was established in 2006 to meet the needs of the families of prisoners. Castlerea Prison is the only rurally based prison in the Country with a catchment area of Connaught and from the counties of Cavan, Donegal and Longford. Families face the problems of travel, distance, access of transport, rural isolation, loneliness, dependency, and stigmatisation.
    The ethos of the project is to ensure that the families of prisoners have a safe, friendly, warm environment where they, and their children can meet prior to, and after visiting their family member. In addition to providing these services, the project also provides complimentary refreshments to the families.
    Castlerea Prison is a closed, medium security prison for adult males. It is the committal prison for remand and sentenced prisoners in Connaught and also takes committals from counties Cavan, Donegal and Longford. It houses male prisoners of 17 years of age and more. It has bed capacity of 340.

    Supporting Families

    Visitors are offered a full range of information & services such as:

    • Social Welfare Entitlements
    • Travel
    • Counselling
    • Nurse Service
    • Probation
    • Chaplaincy
    • Citizen Information Service
    • Baby changing facilities

    Parent Workshops

    • Slate Clock Making
    • Mirror Painting
    • Flower Arranging
    • Beautician
    • Manicure
    • Healthy Lunch Boxes
    • Jewellery Making           
    • Yoga Sessions
    • Information on Back to School Allowance

    Children Activities

    We receive funding from various agencies to provide the activities below. Galway Roscommon Education & Training Board (GRETB) facilitate and provides funding for workshops such as:

    • Arts & Crafts
    • Card Design
    • Painting
    • Cartoon Painting
    • Story Book Reading
    • Educational workshops for children
    • Kids DVD’s
    • Face Painting
    • Halloween Theme
    • Christmas Celebration

    Indoor Play Area and Playground

    The Resource Centre has a large indoor play area; it also has an outside playground facility, where the children can play in a safe and secure area. Funding for this facility was secured from the Irish Prison Service (IPS) for the children attending the Family Resource Centre, to ensure their visit to the Prison was a positive experience rather than a negative one.

    Opening Hours

    Tuesday       9.30 a.m. - 3.00 p.m.

    Wednesday  9.30 a.m. - 3.00 p.m.

    Thursday     9.30 a.m. - 3.00 p.m.

    Friday         12.30p.m.- 3.00 p.m.

    Saturday     9.30 a.m. - 3.00 p.m.

    For further Information please contact

    Contact: Aoife Guihen, Family Resource Centre Castlerea Prison
    Address: Roscommon LEADER Partnership Co. Ltd, Unit 12, Tower B, Roscommon West Business Park, Golf Links Road, Roscommon Town, Co. Roscommon
    Phone: 094 9620908  | Mobile: 086 603 6050