Report by Mary Reilly
Inishowen Summer Gathering 2005
Something completely different happened between the 22nd &
24th of July 2005.
Hundreds of visitors, locals, campers and entertainers descended
on the Isle of Doagh for a three day festival, celebrating the beauty
of the local area and giving people a taste of organic living and
environmental ideas.
The Inishowen Summer Gathering was the idea of Kathleen O'Hara,
who has recently moved to the area. She, her husband Brendan and
several local people formed a dedicated committee which, in a very
short time, put together three days of entertainment, talks, information
events and art & crafts for both children & adults.
Friday evening kicked off with the lighting of the central campfire
by Lorna McLaughlin of the Henry Girls. Entertainment included a
talk by Lorcan O'Toole on the return of the Golden Eagles to Glenveagh,
children's entertainment, including a puppet show by Danielle Roelfsen,
and music, storytelling and poetry by the campfire.
Saturday morning was a flurry of activity with the market place
being set up in the marquee, yurts for healing and demonstrations
being erected and the many campers coming to the kitchen for breakfast.
The excellent kitchen crew, headed by Tracey, from Co Clare, had
taken a weekend off from working in the protest camp at Rossport,
Co Mayo, where the Shell oil company are locked in battle with the
local people over a proposed new gas pipline, which has been planned
for the area.
Tracey & co set up in a hazel dome, specially built for them
by Brendan Farren and some of the volunteers who came to the site
in the week before the event. They served completely organic food,
from fresh, locally grown salads to lentil stews.
The market place was made up of a wide variety of eco-friendly
businesses, second-hand clothes & bookstalls, the living earth
apothecary and the health food shop.
A structure called the Strawbale theatre, which, in the end was
built from bales of hay, was put to very good use for talks and
film showings. (The extra hay was enjoyed all weekend by children
who spent hours playing in it!) Power for the theatre was provided
by Andy Wilson, using a wind turbine mounted on a pole above the
structure. He also had a solar panel for backup, to use in the unlikely
event of there being no wind.
On Saturday afternoon, Western Organic Network members George MacDonald
& John Brennan gave informative talks on the production of organic
beef, lamb & vegetables. Meanwhile, the Smyth family, also network
members, gave out samples of barbecued organic lamb and homemade
bread & butter to the many people who had come to visit the
event. The butter had been made earlier in the day by Mary Lafferty
using a traditional staff churn.
Paul Tempan from Queens gave an interesting talk, with slides,
on how Irish placenames have evolved and local author Hazel McIntyre
told of her research into emigration in pre-famine times.
Other attractions included demonstrations of spinning by Kathleen
Shiels, lace-making & crochet by Rosaleen McLaughlin and coppice
association members Joe Gowran & Niall Miller showed off their
woodworking skills. Noel McLaughlin brought along a milking cow
and there were a surprising amount of would-be milkmaids queuing
up to have a go!
Texas Ollie and his performing horse, silver, put on a great show
and the many children present took part in almost endless workshops
& events. Ongoing workshops included juggling & African
drumming, people tried their hand at making clay pots, wooden spoons
& willow fish. Indian head massage and other treatments were
available in the healing yurt and one could buy a fruit smoothie
made in a bicycle-powered blender!
At night there was dancing, music & storytelling by the campfire.
Sunday morning kicked off with tai chi, led by Pete (saddler) Doherty.
The sun shone brilliantly all day and everyone enjoyed a carnival
atmosphere. The Henry Girls entertained the lunchtime crowd while
the recycled sounds workshops and children's parade were some of
the highlights of the weekend. Local historians Dessie McCallion
& Neil McGrory gave guided tours of the ancient landmarks of
the area and other talks throughout the day included Judith Hoad's
walk & talk on wild herbs, Professor Tom Wooley's presentation
on eco-housing & a discussion with Davie Phillips on sustainable
living.
Probably one of the most noticeable things about the Inishowen
Summer Gathering was the complete lack of litter on the ground after
the event. The fact that only a few beer cans turned up in the recycle
bins was also part of the learning curve. It is hoped that this
event will take place again next year and, with more time to prepare,
it should be even bigger and better!
An event such as this could not have been organised without the
good will of a huge number of people. It would be impossible to
thank each one individually. However, the committee would like to
especially thank the following groups: firstly, the landowners who
gave permission for their land to be used for the event, the main
event sponsors, IRDL, Atlantic Organic Ltd, Donegal County Council
& the Source, and the many other businesses who donated materials
and funds.
Many of the people who agreed to give talks and workshops came
to this event not knowing whether it would be successful. Many had
not even been to the area before and didn't know what to expect.
Credit is due to them all for their belief and support.
Besides the committee members, many other dedicated people worked
hard to make this weekend a success. These include the local people
who attended the meetings and worked for months on the sign painting,
the website and on organising the children's events. Thanks also
must go to the children whose wishes beautifully decorated the welcome
tent. Also the volunteers, who started coming to the site more than
a week before, and provided all the manpower needed to build the
structures, dig the toilet pit and even make tea deserve thanks.
And of course, thanks to everyone who came, from near or far, to
make this weekend one that will be remembered for a long time to
come.
SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!!!
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