Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
2 Aug 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 11 days
Feedback
8
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Badges (3)
Details
Description
Hi, I'm Joy, I am a volunteer at the Foundation in Thomastown, Ireland. On sacred land in the heart of County Kilkenny the Foundation has developed Sanctuary, a spiritual centre offering spiritual guidance to individuals and families. Generous donors have helped the foundation to purchase this land and property. The foundation supports families who have experienced great challenges such as the loss of a child or a diagnosis of an incurable illness. . The property includes several homes sitting in 100 acres of farmland, ancient forest, cultivated lands and a thriving walled garden where we grow fruits and vegetables. There is a main Georgian home, a caretakers cottage and a period lodge with 6 rooms. The main house has been meticulously restored and now holds spiritual retreats in the summer months. This is a special land with a very spiritual energy.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Interests
Pets
Farming
Vegetarian or vegan
Sustainability
Plant care
Writing
Gardening
DIY & crafts
Drawing & painting
Cooking & food
Carpentry
Hiking
Outdoor activities
Cycling
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We have a full time gardener and horticulturist and 3 full time maintenance crew so you will have skilled people to learn from. Most have worked on this land for 4-5 years and have many projects and guidance to share with you. The horticulturist, James, is a musician and you can enjoy some evenings with him sharing Irish music and dance.
Help
We are looking for support to clear land, to plant and tend some of the organic gardens during March 2026. The work will mainly be outdoors so you would need to be ok in all elements. We also have painting jobs (windows/doors), repair jobs, signage and artistic projects so anyone with painting or woodwork skills would be ideal. Anyone who is particularly creative also needed for small creative jobs around the property.
Generally we need willing hands and those ok to be outside in the winter. We will be doing tasks together and we have full time horticulturists and maintenance crew to support and lead.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
We will stay in the lodge which is a house dating back to 1807, it is fully furnished with mostly twin and triple rooms - some with their own bathroom, others will be sharing a main bathroom. The accommodation is of a very high standard and you will be expected to keep it clean and tidy at all times. There is a large communal dining room, kitchen and living room. The house has wooden floors so noise travels easily. We are looking for workawayers who will be respectful of noise levels so everyone can enjoy their stay. We will provide vegetarian food, some food will be prepared by the chef from the main house, other times food will be provided and we will cook together. We have a big bbq in the courtyard and an electric Arga in the kitchen.
What else ...
We are looking for those who will appreciate the spiritual nature of this property and be a willing hand, fully engaged in the activities. We will have nights with games, cooking and reading. We are not far from Kilkenny and some day excursions will be arranged including hikes to local sites. Thomastown is a 30 minute walk. We are a non-drinking and non smoking community so whilst we don't need you to be a non drinker, drinking on property is not permitted.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
If you have a campervan/motorhome we have a designated area with some electricity and water supply.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (3)
On each day we knew what we had to do depending on the weather and the staff needs: gardening, painting, cleaning, ... A typical day work would be 10am-4pm with 1 hour for lunch between 1 and 2pm.
We spent most of our time outside… read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.7)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
On each day we knew what we had to do depending on the weather and the staff needs: gardening, painting, cleaning, ... A typical day work would be 10am-4pm with 1 hour for lunch between 1 and 2pm.
We spent most of our time outside… read more
The weather was amazing so we essentially worked in the garden with James and Orsi who were amazing. It was all kinds of tasks for 5 hours a day I’d say.
The food… read more
