Meet Conor: The Monaghan Town Man Bringing the Autism Community Together
Meet Conor, Monaghan town man, chairperson of the Monaghan Autism Committee and founder of the Monaghan Adult Autistic Social Group, who organises autism-friendly events across the county.
Every so often, a community finds itself carried forward by one person's quiet determination to make things a little easier for everyone else. In County Monaghan, that person is Conor — a Monaghan town man with autism who has become the driving force behind some of the county's most welcoming social events for autistic people and their families.
As chairperson of the Monaghan Autism Committee and founder of the Monaghan Adult Autistic Social Group, Conor spends much of his free time organising get-togethers designed with one goal in mind: giving autistic people and their families a space where they can simply be themselves, without judgement, without sensory overload, and without the pressure that so many everyday social settings can bring.
"We bridge the gap with inclusion, not exclusion."
— Conor, Chairperson, Monaghan Autism Committee
An Advocate Who Knows the Experience First-Hand
Monaghan Autism Committee
What sets Conor's work apart is that he isn't approaching this from the outside looking in. As an autistic man himself, he understands directly what it is like to navigate a world that isn't always built with neurodiversity in mind — the overwhelming noise of a busy café, the anxiety of an unfamiliar social situation, and the exhausting effort of "masking" just to fit in.
Conor's journey with the committee began with a simple realisation: the local community needed more spaces where neurodivergent people could connect without barriers. Since taking on the role of chairperson, he has dedicated himself to building those spaces, even sharing his advocacy journey on local radio to bring wider awareness to the cause. For Conor, it is about shifting the local conversation from passive awareness to active, everyday acceptance.
That lived experience is exactly why the events he organises tend to get such a warm response locally. They are not designed by a committee in the abstract, but by someone who genuinely understands what "autism-friendly" needs to mean in practice.
What the Monaghan Autism Committee Does
Under Conor's leadership, the committee has been steadily building a calendar of autism-friendly events aimed at bringing the autism community in Monaghan together. Alongside his role as chairperson, Conor also founded the Monaghan Adult Autistic Social Group — a dedicated space for autistic adults in the county to meet, connect, and build friendships in an environment that truly understands them. The focus is consistently on creating low-pressure, understanding environments — places where autistic people and their families can socialise, connect with others who share their experience, and simply enjoy an evening out without having to explain themselves.
Booking for these events must always be made directly through Conor in advance. There is no automated online booking system or third-party sign-up — it is a deliberately personal approach, ensuring that every event is planned carefully around the sensory and social needs of the people actually attending.
This kind of community-led, peer-support approach matters. Family members of autistic people, and autistic adults themselves, often describe struggling to find spaces that are genuinely accommodating rather than just tolerated — venues where stimming, unique communication styles, or the need to step away for a moment are met with understanding rather than stares. Events organised by someone who lives that experience daily go a long way toward closing that gap.
Coming Up: Autism-Friendly Coffee Social Evening
Conor's next autism-friendly event is a Coffee Social Evening, hosted in partnership with Crafty on Muckno Street in Castleblayney.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Where | Crafty, Muckno St, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan (A75 T028) |
| When | Monday 27th July, 5.00pm – 7.00pm |
| Who | Everyone is welcome |
| Booking | Essential — call or text Conor on 086 731 3088 |
It is a simple idea, executed with real care: a couple of hours in a welcoming local café, open to the whole community, with no pressure and no formality — just company, coffee, and conversation among people who understand.
Why Events Like This Matter
Autism is a spectrum, which means no two autistic people experience the world in quite the same way. However, a common thread for many is the difficulty of finding social settings that feel genuinely safe and accommodating. Sensory sensitivities, communication differences, and social anxiety can make everyday outings far more draining than they might appear from the outside.
Autism-friendly social events help address this directly. They give autistic individuals a space to connect with others who understand their experience, and they give parents, siblings, and carers a chance to relax alongside their families rather than constantly managing the environment around them. For many, an evening like the one Conor is organising isn't just a nice extra — it is one of the few opportunities in their month to socialise without extra strain.
Follow Conor's Work
Conor documents his advocacy and the committee's events online, where you can keep up with what is coming next:
- Instagram (@conordavid19): Regular event updates, community highlights, and daily insights into local advocacy work.
- YouTube (@ConorDavid30): Personal vlogs, event recap videos, and discussions on navigating life on the spectrum.
Get Involved
If you or someone in your family is autistic and looking for a genuinely welcoming space to connect with others locally, the Coffee Social Evening on Monday 27th July is open to everyone. Booking is essential and must be arranged directly with Conor in advance — reach out on 086 731 3088 to reserve your place.
Events like this don't happen by accident. They happen because someone in the community decides to build the thing that was missing — and in Monaghan, that someone is Conor.