This aerial image depicts a rural property with three buildings, a driveway, trees, grassy fields, parked vehicles, scattered outdoor equipment, and a surrounding road, viewed from above.
A cozy living room features a blue sofa, wood stove fireplace, bookshelf, painting of a sailboat, and a toolbox on a chair, creating a homely atmosphere.
A hand-drawn diagram on white paper shows a planting layout for willows, using colors and labels to separate orange and yellow willow groups, with detailed notes.
A tidy bedroom with a wooden double bed, white and wooden headboard, mattress, crumpled bedding, two nightstands, a small rug, and minimalistic decor.
This compact kitchen features white cabinets, a small oven, mini fridge, sink, dish rack, kettle, and countertop tools, with a window providing natural light.
This is a simple, modern bathroom with beige tiles, a toilet, white sink cabinet, wall-mounted shower, window, and several small bath mats on the floor.
A vibrant rainbow stretches across a cloudy sky above a lush green garden, with bushes, a bird feeder, distant fields, and a white greenhouse in view.
An aerial view of a green rural field with cows grazing, intersected by hedges. In the foreground, an excavation site with exposed earth and muddy patches.
A group of people, including adults and children, are outdoors digging and working with shovels on grassy ground, surrounded by trees and green vegetation.
updated  

Creating a resilient property along permaculture principles in Shinrone, Co. Offaly, Ireland

Profile information

  • rating

    Host rating

    85 %

  • Last replied

    Last replied

    29 Apr 2026

  • Reply rate

    Reply rate

    100.0 %

    Usually responds within 2 days

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    Feedback

    7

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Availability

  2026 

 Min stay requested: at least a week

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What's this?

Details

  • Description

    Description

    We moved onto the 16ac property in 2024 and are developing it to become as self-sufficient as possible. We have installed solar panels, developed a vegetable patch, started our food forest, and have dug a large wildlife pond for bio-diversity. We will shortly plant a forest of over 10,000 oak trees, erect a poly tunnel and expand our growing area with swales, more ponds, and more fruit trees.

    In keeping with the principles of permaculture any excess food we grow will be passed on to the community. Just to be clear, this is not a commercial operation, we are both retired and just looking to create the best possible life for us and our community.

    It is also hoped to start running permaculture workshops in the near future.

    We would appreciate your help in realising our goals..

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Farmstay help
    Help around the house
  • Interests

    Interests

    Sustainability
    Videography
    Technology
    Charity work
    Plant care
    Gardening
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    Icon

    ...

    ...

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    We can answer any questions about permaculture and self-sufficiency that you have.

    You can learn. how to grow your own food: Sowing seeds, preparing beds for transplanting, transplanting, weeding, mulching, crop planning, and more.

  • Help

    Help

    Jennifer and I are retired and live life accordingly. We have adopted the Irish lifestyle of "no hurry, no worry".

    We need help creating and maintaining the different permaculture projects we have planned and implemented - growing vegetables, weeding and harvesting (in season), caring for our fruit trees, maintaining the garden . As well as that there is general property maintenance - trimming hedges, mowing grass, etc.

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent
    Dutch: Fluent

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    You will live in independently in our comfortable self contained flat. It has a double bed, bathroom, kitchen and pull out double sofa bed.

    You will be self-catering so you will need to provide your own food and entertainment.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Our place is pretty well in the centre of Ireland close to the old town of Birr and an easy 20min drive from the N7, Dublin - Limerick, motorway . Most places are within a couple of hours driving on good Irish roads. Dublin is 2 hours, Galway and Connemara is 2 hours, the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren are 2 hours, Lough Derg is 30 mins, Limerick and Bunratty Castle are just over 1 hour, Cork is 2 and a half, etc. Roads in Ireland are excellent and Irish drivers are usually kind courteous .

    You will definitely need a car as public transport is very limited. Bicycles might be an option if you dont mind pulling over for tractors on the narrow roads.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    Rory used to be a web developer and well used to people working online. Our wifi is unlimited but if your need is excessive you will probably need a data only plan to hotspot your cellphone.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    We have space for a camper van.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

  • My animals / pets

    My animals / pets

Host ref number: 839919976891

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Photos

A cozy living room features a blue sofa, wood stove fireplace, bookshelf, painting of a sailboat, and a toolbox on a chair, creating a homely atmosphere.
A hand-drawn diagram on white paper shows a planting layout for willows, using colors and labels to separate orange and yellow willow groups, with detailed notes.
A tidy bedroom with a wooden double bed, white and wooden headboard, mattress, crumpled bedding, two nightstands, a small rug, and minimalistic decor.
This compact kitchen features white cabinets, a small oven, mini fridge, sink, dish rack, kettle, and countertop tools, with a window providing natural light.
This is a simple, modern bathroom with beige tiles, a toilet, white sink cabinet, wall-mounted shower, window, and several small bath mats on the floor.
A vibrant rainbow stretches across a cloudy sky above a lush green garden, with bushes, a bird feeder, distant fields, and a white greenhouse in view.
An aerial view of a green rural field with cows grazing, intersected by hedges. In the foreground, an excavation site with exposed earth and muddy patches.
This aerial image depicts a rural property with three buildings, a driveway, trees, grassy fields, parked vehicles, scattered outdoor equipment, and a surrounding road, viewed from above.
 Show all photos
A group of people, including adults and children, are outdoors digging and working with shovels on grassy ground, surrounded by trees and green vegetation.

Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host

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