Help a family to start a community in the Irish countryside, Clough, Ireland

Details

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  Description

  Welcome to our 250-year-old country manor, a beautiful wreck nestled in the heart of Ireland! We’re on a mission to breathe new life into this old place and create an eco-community, one veggie patch and stone wall at a time—and we need your help!
  
  Hi, we’re Julia and Patrick—adventurers, dreamers, and now, proud (and slightly overwhelmed) owners of a 250-year-old country manor!
  
  Julia is a world traveler and teacher with a passion for birth work, now transitioning into that field. With Workaway experience on 4 continents, she has learned a lot from different communities and can’t wait to create one of our own.
  
  Patrick is an engineer with a love for all things hands-on. Whether it's fixing, building, or dreaming up projects, he’s never far from a hammer or a drill. He’s also completely smitten with this house and determined to restore it, one project at a time.
  
  Then there’s our daughter, Willow, a sweet and curious toddler who loves meeting new people and will definitely charm you with her big smile.
  
  We’re both community enthusiasts and are excited to bring people together to help build something special here. If you’re looking to work hard, have fun, and be part of a growing eco-community, we’d love to have you!
  
  We’re open to ideas, too! If you can dream it, we can probably make it happen (or at least give it a go!). Come for the work, stay for the laughs, the Irish countryside, and maybe the occasional cup of tea or pint of Guinness.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  As a Hungarian-Irish couple, we offer a unique blend of cultures! Travelers can experience rural Irish life while learning about eco-living, gardening, restoration, and hands-on projects. You'll be part of creating an eco-community and pick up practical skills, all while enjoying Irish hospitality and a touch of Hungarian tradition. Plus, with our toddler Willow around, you’ll get a taste of family life and maybe learn a few Hungarian and Irish phrases!
  
  Julia is a world traveler who’s volunteered on farms, schools, campsites, and gardens all over the globe. She’s excited to give back to this community, share her experiences, swapping stories, laughs, and ideas around the dinner table. She also loves to hear about your travels, passions, and life experiences—so come ready to chat!
  
  We’re all about community cooking! We’d love to learn how to cook your favorite dishes from around the world and enjoy them together. Food is a big part of how we connect, and we can’t wait to share new recipes and stories.
  
  We’re also happy to explore the local area together. While Patrick knows the lay of the land, it’ll be an adventure for most of us. Let’s discover hidden gems, local farms, and peaceful spots to chill in the Irish countryside.
  
  We work together, eat together, and share stories and laughter as we build this eco-community. It's all about good vibes, learning, and connecting with each other and the earth.

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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

  Our to-do list is longer than a rainy Irish summer, so if you’ve got skills (or just enthusiasm), you’re in the right place! Here’s what we’ve got on the go:
  
  🌱 Gardening & Weeding – If you love getting your hands dirty, come join us in the veggie patch and herb medicine garden! Whether you're a green-thumbed guru or just excited to learn, we’ll be planting, weeding, and growing delicious, homegrown food and medicine together.
  
  🌿 Composting & Compost Toilet – Ready to embrace eco-living? Help us kickstart our compost system and build a compost toilet in the great outdoors. It’s a hands-on, earth-loving project, and we’ll figure it out as we go—no stress, just fun learning!
  
  👶 Love and Play with Willow – Our little sunshine, Willow, is the heart of the house. We’d love for you to play, teach, and include her in the daily rhythm of our community. She’s always curious and full of energy, and we know you’ll enjoy her company while we all work and play together!
  
  🧹 House Cleaning & Organizing – Let’s keep the good energy flowing by bringing some order to our lovely old house. Help us tidy up, organize books, and keep things cozy as we turn this space into a livable haven.
  
  🔨 Restoration Projects – Patrick, our resident architect, builder, engineer and DIY lover, is always eager to roll up his sleeves and get hands-on with restoration projects. From woodwork to basic repairs, you’ll learn a lot as we work on small, manageable tasks together. We’ll leave the big jobs to the professionals, but there’s plenty of creative, do-it-yourself work to dive into!
  
  📱 Website & Social Media – Got tech skills or a creative spark? Help us set up a website and share our eco-adventure on social media. It’s a fun, collaborative way to document our journey and spread the word about our growing community.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Hungarian: Fluent
  Italian: Fluent
  Danish: Beginner
  Spanish: Beginner
  Swedish: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
  You can contact them directly for more information.
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  Accommodation

  Since our house is still a work in progress (think "delightfully derelict"), accommodations will vary depending on how many people are here. We can offer:
  
  - A separate room if available.
  - A shared room with other volunteers.
  - Camping during the warmer months—bring your own tent or we can provide one.
  - If you have a caravan, you’re welcome to park it outside and make yourself at home!
  
  As for meals, we imagine it to be community-style eating. I’ll cook, or we can cook together—either way, it’s all about sharing good food and good company. It’s rustic, but part of the adventure, and the Irish countryside more than makes up for it!

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  What else ...

  In your free time, the area is primarily rural, surrounded by farms and peaceful countryside. It’s a great place for simply relaxing and enjoying the tranquility. A car is ideal for getting around, but if you don’t have one, we can drop you off at the train station occasionally for trips further afield.

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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

  our work schedule is totally flexible

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  Space for parking camper vans

  there is plenty of space for campers

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  Can possibly accept pets

  any animals are welcome as ong as they get along with kids and other animals

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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