The protest commenced on St Stephen’s Day following an emergency public meeting on December 23.
It continues this week and is being manned by protestors 24 hours a day.
However, the situation has been ongoing for months with a number of public meetings and a peaceful walk, with hundreds of participants, taking place.
The convent is situated right beside the village’s national school - Scoil Chaitriona.
A committee called Cappamore Community Group, say in a statement to the Leader, that the convent should be used as an autism suite for the school pupils.
Cappamore Housing Association, who acquired the convent from the Sisters of Mercy in 2020, have signed a “short-term lease” to Coolmine Therapeutic Centre “for residential purposes only for women and children”.
In a lengthy statement online on Sunday they say they have asked Coolmine Therapeutic Centre “not to exercise its right to the lease” and “strongly supports the development of an autism spectrum facility for the school”.
They say they are “very happy to transfer ownership of the building and grounds of the convent to the owners of Scoil Chaitriona, however due process needs to be followed”.
“No to Coolmine” is written on the silage bales outside the convent. Coolmine is a drug and alcohol treatment centre “that brings clients on a journey of recovery by providing quality community, day and residential services”.
There has been no response, to date, to a media query sent by Limerick Live to Coolmine about the situation.
Cappamore Community Group, formed by parents and community members, say the numbers in Scoil Chaitríona have been growing steadily in the past few years.
“Teacher numbers have increased meaning more classrooms were required. It opened its first autism class in 2019, one of the first in the local area, and now provides two autism classes which serve not only Cappamore but also further afield.
“Space in the school is not suitable for its current use. The school is landlocked and has no option of expansion unless they use the convent building and grounds. The school PE hall that was built in 2011 has been used as a classroom for the last four years due to rising numbers.
"The current autism classrooms are restrictive with limited space, toilets and sensory/movement rooms are a corridor away from the classroom. Children with special needs are not having their needs fully met,” they say.
They recognise and support Coolmine’s important work but believe the convent is “not the right location for such a facility”.
When contacted by the Leader, Cappamore-based councillor Martin Ryan said: “I have always said that my position is support for the school in developing the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) unit as funds have been secured to do the same and the facility has started in the school.
“I am firmly of the view that the building is required by the school and I ask and hope that all groups will work as a community together to get over the current situation to get the building made available to the school to progress the development of the ASD facilities as soon as possible.”
Cappamore Housing Association's statement released on Sunday concludes: “We hope all stakeholders, while having different perspectives, will continue to work collaboratively to seek a positive outcome. We urge all concerned to act with appropriate respect for divergent views and to seek solutions and to avoid confrontation.
“As a parish community, Cappamore has always been able to work together and accommodate different views – we commit to continuing to do that without unnecessary division.”