Date: 14 Jan 2026
Donegal County Council rolls out Period Dignity Programme in cultural venues across the county
Donegal County Council has expanded its Period Dignity Initiative, ensuring free period products are now available in the County Museum, The Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny and in every public library across the county. This development builds on the original programme launched in June 2024, which introduced free period products across Donegal’s Public Service Centres and Family Resource Centres and represents another significant step forward in tackling period poverty.
Period poverty refers to the inability to afford and access menstrual products, sanitation and hygiene facilities and education and awareness to manage menstrual health. The Period Dignity Programme aims to remove the financial and social barriers often associated with menstruation. By extending provision to cultural venues, Donegal County Council is ensuring that essential products are available in more locations, more often, and in a discreet and accessible way.
These venues now provide free pads and tampons, available for anyone who needs them. The extension of the initiative has been made possible through funding from the Local Community Development Committee’s Healthy Donegal programme (Healthy Ireland) and the Department of Health, who continue to support Donegal County Council in improving health, dignity, and wellbeing across the county.
Speaking about the rollout, Cllr. Niamh Kennedy, Vice chairperson of the Donegal LCDC, welcomed the expansion of the initiative, saying:
“This programme has already had a meaningful impact across Public Service Centres and Family Resource Centres. Extending it to our Culture Division venues strengthens that reach and ensures that more people across Donegal can access essential products in a safe, supportive environment and that no one is left without what they need.”
The Healthy Ireland Survey 2022 reported that 24% of women surveyed have experienced at least one indicator of period poverty, with 14% of women over 25 saying they have had to improvise with materials not intended for menstrual use.
. For information and opening hours of the cultural venues, visit www.donegalculture.ie .
This initiative is supported by the Department of Health.
