Visit to Ireland in June 2025
We had been looking forward to reconnecting with our colleagues in the Irish republic for a long time. At the invitation of Danijel Grcevic, Bart Vanmechelen was able to visit initiatives in the Callan, Kilkenny region. It was a short but fascinating trip, in a region with links to the origins of Camphill in the Republic of Ireland as well as to very inspiring, future-oriented initiatives.
Many initiatives come together in the old, walled Westcourt garden: Urban gardens, community-supported agriculture, inclusive horticultural training, volunteering and supported pathways into employment (https://www.cise.ie) find here fertile soil for development. The classroom, called “The Hive”, a fairytale walkway along the oldest chestnut tree in Ireland, and the tranquility that prevails here also make this place an attractive meeting place for many people from the neighborhood.
In the town of Callan, KCAT is a an inclusive art project that brings together artists with special needs, provides them with studios and exhibition spaces and enables them to be involved in regional and international artistic projects.
The cozy organic restaurant Fennely’s is the center of the rich Irish music culture and encounters in the cultural and culinary atmosphere of the city.
Alongside the older Camphill communities, a shared housing project provides a supported living place for people who need extra care, and a team of young biodynamic farmers is developing social farming on Eriu Farm.
Closely connected to these projects is the Workhouse Union, a community co-design organization that supports the development of inclusive, meaningful and positive places and communities with a unique approach based on caring and collaboration. It uses creativity to bring together people with complex issues, diverse needs and challenges to enable meaningful transformation of cities, neighbourhoods and community spaces across Ireland.
In many conversations and a recorded interview, Bart warmly invited the colleagues to collaborate in our section. We look forward to learning more about these inspiring projects!
