The Weekend In The Woods - Spring 2006 Photo Report.
clare |
environment |
news report 
Tuesday May 09, 2006 20:54
by Niall Harnett
The 10th Weekend in the Woods at Bealkelly Wood, Tuamgraney, Co Clare, organised by CELT - the Centre for Environmental Living & Training.
Born after the success of a Summer Craft Fair in Bealkelly Wood, the first weekend of traditional craft courses took place under a few hastily hoisted tarps between the trees in the wet Autumn of 2002.
It was booked out.
Since then, the event has gone from strength to strength and the workshop infrastructure along with it, so much so that the little 'Village in the Woods' looks like a scene out of an Asterix comic.
Weekends in the woods take place three times a year in Spring, Summer and Autumn at the invitation of host Del Harding in his woodland home on the shores of Lough Derg.
Courses are designed around the use of natural materials, keeping alive the traditional and essential skills of survival in the natural environment, and using the gifts of nature to do just that ... and to thrive!
It's also a chance to meet up and camp out with friends, make new ones and have some fun together in the woods and by the lake.
Check out the next 'Summer In The Woods' - July 22/23/24 ...
Comments (27 of 27)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27.
Arriving ...
through the bluebells ...
and the 'wild garlic' ramsons ...
passing the horses ...
to the lake.
.
Blacksmithing.
Shaping.
A toasting fork & a poker, with decoration.
Copper & ...
Tinsmithing.
.
Thatching.
Shaping a leg on the shave-horse with a drawknife.
Greenwood rustic furniture.
Sugán chair framing ...
and 'sugáning'.
.
Herbal lore ...
& Herbal remedies.
Cob ...
& Cordwood ...
Roundhouse.
.
Gorgeous food from Karen's kitchen.
Maria & Brenda.
A couple of cute water hens! ... mmm biodiversity!
mmm chocolate cake!
.
Basket making.
Dry stone walling.
Longbow making.
Shave-horse construction.
.
Bushcraft, and an insight into the mentality of survival, with Del.
Silversmithing.
Eoin Donnelly's Pole Lathe.
Site Manager Gary tempted by a toy for a boy ... or girl! Phew!
Tipi making. Setting out, cutting and sewing canvas.
.
Ram Pump at the stream, using the water’s own energy to pump it where you want it. New model ready behind current one.
Compost toilets.
Dem Shell to Sea'ers are everywhere.
.
Stuart McIntyre’s coracle, still under construction, hit’s the water with confidence.
Calm as the water ...
Cormac and Fiona.
Peter Gowran hooks a pike.
.
‘Local Weather Rock’. Click on photo to enlarge and read.
Sol ...
& Ananda.
Special thanks to Darragh who travelled all the way from Dublin just to help out in pre-event setting up.
.
Independent Media Ireland.
the pictures really say it all. we really live in a beautiful country. great to keep the traditional crafts alive
I was down at Ecotopia a few years ago in Del's place and its great to see the photos and look at how the place has come on. Jaysus, makes me want to go back!
Howdy Niall,
An excellent report. I'm jealous that I didn't go.
I agree with elf, we do indeed have a beautiful country. Thanks for sharing.
A big hello too to Cormac a buddy of mine seen in some of the photos. Now I'm really sickened I didn't go.
wow, what a weekend - thanks to all who have played their part in this unfolding story
from the river that has been here for god knows how long, the wooded banks that saw life for nearly as long, the man who came from further a field, who came up the river and ended up living in a magical woods, to the folk who came over time to share in the magic and to help make things grow, to the people in the nearby village who pitched in together and helped make a beautiful, simple and powerful community, to the woman from beyond the village who took an interest in seeds and started saving them, to the friends who joined her in her back garden, to the folk who came from further afield for a few weeks back in 2002, to the folk who kept it going, kept the connections alive, to those who took it to the next level, to those who shared knowledge on building homes and making chairs, to those that lifted the spirits with tales and tunes around the fires, to those who shared time, tea, peace and quite, to those that were simply there, who smiled and who said nothing.
strange times indeed. But dont think it too strange for a moment that a little story as simple as this will end up being told by old un-hungry women in bolivia, young children without weapons in liberia, children in what was worn torn bosnia, primary school children on their ecological field trip to an eco village in lahinch. We are part of the story, we all have our bit to play, and the pleasure is simply living the life with the rest of this global community and knowing before laying down to rest that it is the only thing that makes sense, it has always been the way, it has always been simple, it has always been known.
strange days indeed.
a new dawn
wow that place looks really nice, shame about all the hippies tho..i think there's nets you can get to round them up! :<
http://www.hippyremovalservices.com
lovely days indeed
singing with the flames
drinking with the flames
Has the Incredible String Band reformed?
Yeah, looks great and I'm glad you all had a great time. Lovely photos. I'm off to Italy soon and when I come back I promise to stick up various photos of me and me mates doing stuff like killing fish etc.
Very nice pictures an all that, but why do you think this merits a story on indymedia? Like, why exactly should we be interested? Are we supposed to go 'Wow! Wish I was there!' ?? I'm not a lifestyler eco-type so this is all pretty meaningless to me, but even if I was what is the point of sticking pics of your nice weekend away on indymedia?
Hold yer breath for my photos from Italy! They'll be great.
Thanks Niall for an excellent report and photos. Comment from 'Job' asks why put this on Indymedia? Well, CELT has these events regularly and I suppose it's just possible that people seeing the report might be interested in what we do and might want to try it out themselves. It's all about local sustainable communities - use of local renewable or recycled resources to make buildings, tools, utensils, sports gear, etc. Also there's the link with nature - living and working in a sustainably managed woodland beside an unspoilt area of lakeshore rich in biodiversity. Don't think I need say much more, except that this way of life could happen in most rural communities throughout Ireland, creating jobs, saving energy and caring for the environment. More support from government and local authorities wouldn't go amiss.
Mr SOLIDARITY ! - Niall Harnett
Great photos and a wonderful record of a weekend that would inspire even the most dour individual!
Father sky gave us rain in great quantity followed by glorious sun: Mother earth gave us a bumpy pillow and the Spirit within was well filled with good companions met and great craic enjoyed!
Thanks to all involved......again!
What a fantastic weekend. Most beautiful woodland I've ever seen.
I can't wait to come back.
Here's a photograph of Del.
Del Harding
I wouldnt be the most outdoorsey type but what a great weekend.
Sean our tutor for the sugan chairmaking was brilliant.How he kept his patience I will never know.8 people on the course and 8
completely different chairs expressing their individuality.Learn't
more about wood and wood crafts than 10 years watching the DIY
channels.Great event, well organised.As the Terminator said,
I'll be back.
Hi, just to add a wee bit about the community garden that happened at the same time in Scariff. People from at least 6 different communtiy garden projects from Dublin, Belfast, Gort and Scariff met up in the cooperative cafe in scariff over the weekend in the woods. We watched the wonderful documentary "the power of community" which was all about local and urban food production in Cuba. We also enjoyed a tour of the Scariff community garden, and shared thoughts and dreams on how we could help each other out in the future. I think a full report is to impending in the coming weeks, so watch this space!
LOVE! mims
http://eglantine-community-garden.blogspot.com/
Hi, just incase anyone follows this thread, here's the website for Belfast's community garden. I'ts mostly just photos and events notices at the minute. This is mostly just so that people can Google for the website address. Thanks
Oh no, I have just heard that a good friend has passed away. That wild and passionate man, that Dub who moved to west clare, who moved on to fight up in Rossport, Niall Harnett... Condolences to Carol and to all who laughed with Niall, drank tea out by the lake of Dells woods after Ecotopia, had a few cans of beer and a dance at the climate camps in England, met up in Clare and admired the sheer beauty of it all.
I hope your presence remains with the rest of us and lights that fire for justice, for the earth and for our fellow travellers. I cant believe we will never have that cup of tea by the lake we talked about.
I can still see him smiling with that glint and saying "allright Dunko whats the crack"
Sin é, RIP, slán a chara
Photoalbum; Niall Harnett - RIP
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151411854131...ype=3
Indymedia Ireland is a media collective. We are independent volunteer citizen journalists producing and distributing the authentic voices of the people. Indymedia Ireland is an open news project where anyone can post their own news, comment, videos or photos about Ireland or related matters.