Help us to create a homestead and cultural centre in the Kilkenny countryside near Tralee, Ireland

Details

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  Description

  We have recently purchased a farmhouse on an acre and in the process of creating a homestead, garden and a venue for cultural events.
  
  This is a very exciting time for us as we begin the work on realising this grand vision. This summer, we are focusing on small building jobs including accommodation for workers and beginning the garden.
  
  We have recently erected a yurt and will now begin on a compost toilet and outdoor kitchen. We are living in a rural but not remote area with a river on the border and a wild glen to the south and east of us.
  
  We run monthly community work days, where people help out and practice their Irish. We are learning about permaculture principals and soil and construction all at once and would welcome anyone with these skills to share.
  
  Our initiative Wild Irish is part of the current revival movement happening in Ireland and part of a global movement of people returning to nature based living. We purchased our place with the help of a crowdfunding campaign and we have a clarified a community of support from that effort.
  
  So there are six of us in this family; myself (Siobhan) and Diarmuid an 8-year-old boy, Uisne, a 5-year-old girl, Eirú, and 2-year-old, Tuireann. Dubh Dubh, the dog is 7 years old.
  The children go the Killkenny Steiner School and I teach Irish there.
  
  I am a performance poet and a Celtic celebrant and Diarmuid is a hurler, facilitator of healing camps for men.
  
  Our joint project is Wild Irish in which we create events for Irish people to reclaim their native language, cultural and spiritual traditions. We speak Irish and English at home.
  
  Our daily work here is a very varied and I believe we could find a task for virtually any skill set, between outdoor construction, gardening, indoor cleaning, cooking and playing and teaching the children.
  
  I think this would suit a couple very well because the tasks are diverse and we can offer a self contained space.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  Interests

  

  Cycling

  

  Dancing

  

  Nature

  

  Hiking
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Our work is in cultural reclamation and we can share much about Irish culture and the language. We offer the rare opportunity to practice and learn the Irish language. This is more relevant for Irish people but plenty other exchanges for travelers too.
  
  I am a performance poet, activist and storyteller and can share what you like on Irish myth, history and contemporary politics. Motherhood is my vocation and have much to share with anyone preparing for their own family. I forage wild edibles and make herbal tinctures. I host spiritual events within the Celtic Christian tradition and the Madgalene rose path.
  
  Diarmuid is a hurler (Irish national sport) commentator and 'rewilder', in that he facilitates healing retreats for boys and men in nature. He has a keen cultural sense and will always expose a visitor to some good music session.
  
  We are part of a national revival in Irish traditional living and the language, which is part of a global movement back to nature-based living. If it is resonant we offer our guest an introduction to this community of like minded individuals in Ireland.
  
  We are very connected to the Steiner School community (where are children attend) and the philosophies of Rudolf Steiner.
  
  I think a traveller would learn alot about this effort of creating a community; they would learn from us and along with us about how to be a proper custodian of the land, how to juggle a public and private life, how to create a refuge in the changing world.

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  Au Pair Help

  This host has let us know they’ll be complying with Irish regulations for au pair stays.here

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  Here are the main building projects happening here this summer;
  We are building a compost toilet and outdoor shower
  An outdoor kitchen area
  Roofing an old hen house for an outdoor seating area
  Putting a roof and porch on the static camper van (woofer accommodation)
  
  Then in the garden, there is work in the polytunnel, sowing, planting, watering, cultivating beds outside, we are digging and terracing some of the back meadow (will practice no dig method after this initial creation of the beds). Particularly interested in making fertilisers, compost and enriching the soil of this place that has been neglected and nutrified.
  
  And then there is the indoor work, less gratifying perhaps but no less essiential of tidying up toys and cleaning the house.
  
  We have one communal meal per day and everyone takes it in turns to prepare and wash up and clean the kitchen afterwards. For breakfast and supper, guests can help themselves to the all that is in the cupboard.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Irish: Fluent

  This host offers a language exchange
  We use both Irish and English at home. We both have experience in teaching Irish.
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  Accommodation

  At the moment there is static campervan down by the barn with a double bed, sink and cooker and electricity (run from the house) is a fairly contained living space for a person or couple. There is a hot shower in the house and a toilet in the shed too.
  
  By late May we will have moved a mobile home onto the land. We will plumb and wire it by the end of the summer. Improvements to the mobile such as creating an outdoor deck and cladding or insulating could be done as part of work exchange. There will be a compost toilet outside and hot shower at the house.
  
  Then there is a spare room in the house with a super king bed if the weather is colder but ideally guests will have their own space.
  
  Guests are welcome to use the yurt for yoga practice or meditation.
  There is also a bell tent that we can erect and a barn where our last woofer prefered to sleep.

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  What else ...

  We live just outside Mullinavat, Kilkenny, a very rich arigicultural area in the midlands. Our house is located on the South Lenister Way so you can hike from the front door. We have two bikes, you are welcome to borrow. Hitching is successful on smaller roads. Also, we can bring you in the car.
  
  All of the following sites are within a 30 minute radius (driving)
  Beauty spot Poulanassy waterfall and plunge pool just 8km away
  Thomastown village with choclatier, farmers markets, cafes, charity shop, woodland walk; good vibes especially on Saturday
  Thomastown to Inistioge 10km hike along the Nore River is gorgeous
  Graignamanagh village and The Barrow Way walking trail: kayak and canoe rental is popular here
  St Mullins, monastic ruins and village, sauna, walks
  Kells Priory, large monastic ruins
  Megaliths: Leac an Scáil dolmen; Gaulstown Dolmen
  Unesco listed Coppercoastline in Waterford; many beautiful beaches and coves and walks. We favour Ballydwane Cove and Annestown for seaweed foraging.
  Waterford Greenway is nearby bike route made along old trainlines.
  
  City wise
  Waterford City: bus from Mullinavat every 90 minutes (or I drive there). 25 euro pass for access to all six museums. Working class culture in Waterford.
  Kilkenny City is more artistic and touristic with the castle, grounds and river as the centrepoint.
  We are two and half hours from Dublin by train or bus.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  We have both a wired and wireless connection from the modem and the signal is sufficient for all of our needs.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  Its fairly ideal for a campervan. There is a yard separate to our own, beside the (unoccuppied) stables, with a separate gate. There is a power source there in the stable that you can plug into. You could also pull into the barn if you wanted to be out of the elements; plenty space in there and again separate to our house and yard. We have a well so good water and you could fill up from the outdoor tap.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  We would welcome a female dog but our male Dubh Dubh is too territorial to settle with most males.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  My animals / pets

  Dubh Dubh (Male, 7)

  Bit of hound, lab and poodle. He's a free spirit, loves to swim and has a very sweet nature, used to being dragged and prodded by children.

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