New Age Hippies in Our Emerald Isle

JupiterKid

It seems to me that Ireland is a bit of a magnet for new age hippie/crustie types who turn on, tune in and drop out in this country, being especially attracted to places like West Cork and Leitrim, where they set up communes and do artistic and crafts-based pursuits.

The locals seem to tolerate them as they largely keep to themselves.

Do you agree with my observation? Do you actually like the fact that we seem to attract English crusties? Or would you prefer if these patchouli oil wearing types just had a bath, cut their dreads off and became members of functioning society?

At least they don't attract widespread ire on here unlike single mothers on welfare or our own well known ethnic minority...

Stacksofwacks

Thanks for letting me know

Undividual

JupiterKid wrote: »

It seems to me that Ireland is a bit of a magnet for new age hippie/crustie types who turn on, tune in and drop out in this country, being especially attracted to places kike West Cork and Leirtrim, where they set up communes and do artistic and crafts based pursuits.

The locals seem to tolerate them as they largely keep to themselves.

Do you agree with my observation? Do you actually like the fact that we seem to attract English crusties? Or would you prefer if these patchouli oil wearing types just had a bath, cut their dreads off and became members of functioning society?

At least they don't attract widespread ire on here unlike single mothets on welfare or our own well known ethnic minority...

Your energy is way harsh dude.

Noveight

Them auld Steiner schools seem to be doing alright for themselves.

Definitely more Crusties around alright.

LessOutragePlz

No suck thing as hippies anymore just crazy left wing liberals now.

Kevin Finnerty

A lot of riding going on in West Cork alright. Campfire Orgies they're called,you can roast your marshmallows in the fire or in an orifice by all accounts. Fair play to the Crusties.

harry Bailey esq

Kevin Finnerty wrote: »

A lot of riding going on in West Cork alright. Campfire Orgies they're called,you can roast your marshmallows in the fire or in an orifice by all accounts. Fair play to the Crusties.

That's why it's called COOLE Mountain.

Jim Bob Scratcher

The OP sounds prejudice

Jimmy Garlic

A lot of trust fund hippies about too, often confused with new age hippies. Down around kinsale is a big spot for them. The holier than thou types that preach about carbon footprints then fly out to Bali, Peru , etc on the regular.

JupiterKid

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

A lot of trust fund hippies about too, often confused with new age hippies. Down around kinsale is a big spot for them. The holier than thou types that preach about carbon footprints then fly out to Bali, Peru , etc on the regular.

I think these types are colloquially known as Trustifarians. Yep, expect to hear all about how meat eating is evil, selfish and destroying Mother Earth and veganism is the only way, man...

...hypocrites of the highest order.

Jimmy Garlic

JupiterKid wrote: »

I think these types are colloquially known as Trustifarians. Yep, expect to hear all about how meat eating is evil, selfish and destroying Mother Earth and veganism is the only way, man...

...hypocrites of the highest order.

Trustifarians, that's the one. Zealots who make a lot of exceptions for themselves. The kind who would be off to Peru to drink hallucinogenic cactus juice for their 'spiritual development', to be at one with Gaia. Preachy, dogmatic and fanatical most of them. Not much difference between them and religious fanatics, the same my way is the only way attitude, they are about as open minded as Osama Bin Laden was.

withless

This is a local country for local people, there's nothing for them here.

Trigger Happy

I have no problem with them as long as they bathe more than once a month.

One eyed Jack

JupiterKid wrote: »

It seems to me that Ireland is a bit of a magnet for new age hippie/crustie types who turn on, tune in and drop out in this country, being especially attracted to places like West Cork and Leitrim, where they set up communes and do artistic and crafts-based pursuits.

The locals seem to tolerate them as they largely keep to themselves.

Do you agree with my observation? Do you actually like the fact that we seem to attract English crusties? Or would you prefer if these patchouli oil wearing types just had a bath, cut their dreads off and became members of functioning society?

At least they don't attract widespread ire on here unlike single mothers on welfare or our own well known ethnic minority...

I smell schadenfreude.

Zorya

You're about 40 years too late to be noticing the crusties for the first time, Jupiter.

tabby aspreme

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

Trustifarians, that's the one. Zealots who make a lot of exceptions for themselves. The kind who would be off to Peru to drink hallucinogenic cactus juice for their 'spiritual development', to be at one with Gaia. Preachy, dogmatic and fanatical most of them. Not much difference between them and religious fanatics, the same my way is the only way attitude, they are about as open minded as Osama Bin Laden was.

Is it Mary Robinson your talking about.

ArchXStanton

They've been here since the 80's,this incident in the UK seen a lot of them flock to here, I remember this happening as a kid and how heavy handed the police were with them, if I remember correctly a few of them took it to courts but the state won.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LHizyCtakw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwkX7D6PmcQ

biko

A bunch of them around Galway, harmless really and adds character.

gozunda

JupiterKid wrote: »

It seems to me that Ireland is a bit of a magnet for new age hippie/crustie types who turn on, tune in and drop out in this country, being especially attracted to places like West Cork and Leitrim, where they set up communes and do artistic and crafts-based pursuits.

The locals seem to tolerate them as they largely keep to themselves.

Do you agree with my observation? Do you actually like the fact that we seem to attract English crusties? Or would you prefer if these patchouli oil wearing types just had a bath, cut their dreads off and became members of functioning society?

At least they don't attract widespread ire on here unlike single mothers on welfare or our own well known ethnic minority...

Definitly noticed a trend over a couple of decades tbh. Some of retiree age (additional pension benefits), fairly exteme animal rights nutters usually found involved with 'rescues' etc, born again vegans and in your face social justice warriors. I do wonder has the whole Brexit thing precipitated the current wave of arrivals ...

Then there are the digital crusties - those who don't live here but use social media to let people living here exactly what we should think, how we should all spend our time etc!

JupiterKid

JupiterKid wrote: »

I think these types are colloquially known as Trustifarians. Yep, expect to hear all about how meat eating is evil, selfish and destroying Mother Earth and veganism is the only way, man...

...hypocrites of the highest order.

Well done.

You’ve mentioned veganism in a thread.

Several people have been alarmed.

Wouldn’t win much money on betting that they’ll be along soon to exaggerate stereotypes and accuse all vegans of being extremists.

If I didn’t have them on ignore I could sit back and have a good old laugh.

JohnnyFlash

Weed smokers, lefties, vegans, questionable hygiene, dreadlocks - plenty to dislike about the average crusty.

Day Lewin

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

Weed smokers, lefties, vegans, questionable hygiene, dreadlocks - plenty to dislike about the average crusty.

Must disagree! This sounds like the best possible fun. I'd eat the rabbits, though - it's really hard to be a vegan with no imported food.

And you forgot, "Make love, not war" - and the comfy pretty clothes, the flowers and posters, and the music. Ah, freedom!

The Bishop Basher

We had a bunch of them living in trees nearby in Glen of the Downs for a good few years..

A few locals joined them..

I always admired their tenacity and persistence. I wouldn’t spend an hour up a tree never mind a couple of years.

ArchXStanton

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

Weed smokers, lefties, vegans, questionable hygiene, dreadlocks - plenty to dislike about the average crusty.

I meet a lot of them through working at various festivals around the country, I'd be pretty much the antithesis of them but get on fine with them, they seem to just live for festivals, the session and making art installations. An eccentric bunch of characters but sure that's what adds spice to life.

Chinasea

We need more of them not less.

At least their mantra is to love and respect their environment.

topper75

All about the money. Who is funding?

If it is the state - they can **** off.

If they are self-funded (trusties!) then I am obliged to live and let live I suppose.

I sometimes cross over with them on the Venn Diagram of life through musical pursuits. I recall one cafe gig being seated next to a middle-aged couple who paid zero attention to grooming or bathing. They stank like a nasty science experiment. Not nice. They probably thought they were just being 'natural'.

Basically some of them need to become 'mindful' of their scent and think more about their fiscal 'footprint'.

gozunda

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Well done.
You’ve mentioned veganism in a thread.
Several people have been alarmed.
Wouldn’t win much money on betting that they’ll be along soon to exaggerate stereotypes and accuse all vegans of being extremists.
If I didn’t have them on ignore I could sit back and have a good old laugh.

"You've mentioned veganism ... several people have been alarmed" lol - Ahh here now - no need to pick just on poor jupiterkid and no need to get 'alarmed' either way! . Lots of posters here have identified this classification as candidates for crustydom . And hilariously enough you've also highlighted the sacred cow of veganism by talking about it! Wouldn’t win much money on betting that some of these types will be along soon to exaggerate and accuse all and sundry of exaggeration etc lol...

i57dwun4yb1pt8

ah jaysus ,
batin down on the hippies ??

whats next , the disabled ?

Muckka

East Clare is full of them, so is the new line near Kinvara.
Ennistymon is attractive to them too.

A lot of them are old money, probably at least 400,000 in the bank's for a rainy day.

They're never broke, travel to exotic places quite frequently.

Do you see the way they look like they wear shabby clothes and boots etc

You can guarantee the men are wearing the likes of iron ranger's boots, and the women the equivalent.
Their wollen jumpers, and colourful garments are designed by top designers. None of your high street Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Hugo Boss rubbish... which people think is classy.
Quite the opposite really trashy....
I mean these people wear super toff clothing.

So don't be thinking these Bohemians are poor and needy, they are very wealthy, confident and educated.

I know a few and they're a clever bunch.

Ironically a lot of then are alt right, so stick that one where the sun don't shine "lefties"

maninasia

Muckka wrote: »

East Clare is full of them, so is the new line near Kinvara.
Ennistymon is attractive to them too.

A lot of them are old money, probably at least 400,000 in the bank's for a rainy day.

They're never broke, travel to exotic places quite frequently.

Do you see the way they look like they wear shabby clothes and boots etc

You can guarantee the men are wearing the likes of iron ranger's boots, and the women the equivalent.
Their wollen jumpers, and colourful garments are designed by top designers. None of your high street Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Hugo Boss rubbish... which people think is classy.
Quite the opposite really trashy....
I mean these people wear super toff clothing.

So don't be thinking these Bohemians are poor and needy, they are very wealthy, confident and educated.

I know a few and they're a clever bunch.

Ironically a lot of then are alt right, so stick that one where the sun don't shine "lefties"

I somehow doubt they're alt right.
A fair number probably make the move to Ireland cos the social in UK is pretty tough to get now and a pittance.

I knew a lady , European hippy, old.friend, was living in a cheap rental down that way. Not sure if they got the rent covered by the govt she was still working part time anyway at markets.

Muckka

maninasia wrote: »

I somehow doubt they're alt right.
A fair number probably make the move to Ireland cos the social in UK is pretty tough to get now and a pittance.

I knew a lady , European hippy, old.friend, was living in a cheap rental down that way. Not sure if they got the rent covered by the govt she was still working part time anyway at markets.

Is she into Unicorns ?
German ???

Muckka

Muckka wrote: »

Is she into Unicorns ?
German ???

I call into some of them for tea sometimes.
They're interesting, and the kids will talk away to you, very articulate I might add.

Love animals and plants etc, there's one guy he loves eating goats, he does amazing things with Curry.

There's a dude up in East Clare called "Road Kill Bob".

He's one of those hippies...

Guess why he's called Roadkillbob

fryup

Muckka wrote: »

East Clare is full of them,

yep, Tuamgraney, Scariff, Mountshannon etc is a hippy mecca....nice people on the whole although their personal hygiene is questionable

fryup

fryup wrote: »

yep, Tuamgraney, Scariff, Mountshannon etc is a hippy mecca....nice people on the whole although their personal hygiene is questionable

Years ago I know one half of an English new age traveler couple who were very good traditional musicians and made a sort of living busking, but it was hard going, anyway after about 10 years of this the female of the couple got fed up of this returned to the UK became a teacher married and settled down to a middle-class life.

Feisar

topper75 wrote: »

All about the money. Who is funding?

If it is the state - they can **** off.

If they are self-funded (trusties!) then I am obliged to live and let live I suppose.

I sometimes cross over with them on the Venn Diagram of life through musical pursuits. I recall one cafe gig being seated next to a middle-aged couple who paid zero attention to grooming or bathing. They stank like a nasty science experiment. Not nice. They probably thought they were just being 'natural'.

Basically some of them need to become 'mindful' of their scent and think more about their fiscal 'footprint'.

Can you imagine the furry cup? It'd be like battery acid!

sbsquarepants

Muckka wrote: »

Guess why he's called Roadkillbob

Is it to avoid confusion with his father was Roadkillrobert.

Roadkillrobert the second just sounds too upper class?

topper75

Feisar wrote: »

Can you imagine the furry cup? It'd be like battery acid!

Ha ha - I'd like, for many reasons, to think that will NEVER become my problem.

I went away wondering how the other crusties stuck it. Maybe that couple lived way back in the woods and only came out for gigs once a year.

This was in one of the aforementioned East Clare places funnily enough. NE Clare can feel like one big drum circle infestation.

corner of hells

I've a cousin who lives in communes in the west , he moves between Clare , Galway and I think West Cork.

He generally stays in the one area during the school year making sure his kids are in school .

His income is from selling his own prints, paintings and jewelry and he makes sure he's tax compliant.

To be honest it looks line himself and his partner gave a very good existence .
He fairly well educated too and is no fool.

padd b1975

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

Weed smokers, lefties, vegans, questionable hygiene, dreadlocks - plenty to dislike about the average crusty.

Absolutely.

Loads of them around rural Galway back in the early nineties.
I heard of a rather simple local lad (Walter Mitty type) who managed to pop his cherry in the back of a hand-painted Bedford traveling bank.

Poor lad was scratching for months afterwards.

Never rubbered up either.

Church on Tuesday

DaDumTish wrote: »

ah jaysus ,
batin down on the hippies ??

whats next , the disabled ?

Well, it is AH after all and some folk here we're happy to make fun of a woman in a vegetative state who was brutally raped and has since given birth, so I'd reckon give it time and there will be an attack on the disabled any day now.

Poor Uncle Tom

topper75 wrote: »

All about the money. Who is funding?

If it is the state - they can **** off.

If they are self-funded (trusties!) then I am obliged to live and let live I suppose.

I sometimes cross over with them on the Venn Diagram of life through musical pursuits. I recall one cafe gig being seated next to a middle-aged couple who paid zero attention to grooming or bathing. They stank like a nasty science experiment. Not nice. They probably thought they were just being 'natural'.

Basically some of them need to become 'mindful' of their scent and think more about their fiscal 'footprint'.

I think you will find you are obliged to live and let live either way........

bullpost

Muckka wrote: »

Guess why he's called Roadkillbob

To distinguish him from his samurai-wielding brother RoadKillBill?

Emme

I know a West Cork farmer who was regularly asked for a bale of straw when one of what he called the hippies was giving birth. This was in the 1980s.

FTA69

I knew a load of them back in Cork and they're a pain in the hole, good for buying grass and acid off sometimes but that was about it. You'd meet the odd one who was sound but even then they'd be a bit floaty; on about psychedelic trance and f*cking fire poi and yoga and the like of it. I've no time for most of them, they'd bore the arse out off you with all manner of mad waffle. I can't trust anyone who was born and raised outside of Clonakilty but still has a posh English accent.

In fairness the ones I knew were the somewhat more well-heeled and normal types, their parents were just a bit 'alternative'. I did go to Coole Mountain once and the f*cking state of them, shower of unwashed glorified junkies living in filth and most of them never worked a day in their lives. I remember asking one fella how he managed trips to Nepal and it was "ha ha what do you think man, save up the dole!". As if none of us have anything better to be doing like.

Hippies give me the proper hump.

topper75

Poor Uncle Tom wrote: »

I think you will find you are obliged to live and let live either way........

Obliged?
Yeah. The same obligation I have to live with scabies, mice, and cockroaches.

corner of hells

FTA69 wrote: »

I knew a load of them back in Cork and they're a pain in the hole, good for buying grass and acid off sometimes but that was about it. You'd meet the odd one who was sound but even then they'd be a bit floaty; on about psychedelic trance and f*cking fire poi and yoga and the like of it. I've no time for most of them, they'd bore the arse out off you with all manner of mad waffle. I can't trust anyone who was born and raised outside of Clonakilty but still has a posh English accent.

In fairness the ones I knew were the somewhat more well-heeled and normal types, their parents were just a bit 'alternative'. I did go to Coole Mountain once and the f*cking state of them, shower of unwashed glorified junkies living in filth and most of them never worked a day in their lives. I remember asking one fella how he managed trips to Nepal and it was "ha ha what do you think man, save up the dole!". As if none of us have anything better to be doing like.

Hippies give me the proper hump.

His trips to Nepal were probably financed by you buying weed and acid off him.

James Brown

LessOutragePlz wrote: »

No suck thing as hippies anymore just crazy left wing liberals now.

Yeah that Trump, what a lefty

Greentopia

I know a good few of them-a few are friends, and I worked with some who have permaculture smallholdings. If you're a permie you get to know a lot of new age/hippie types. Lots of English, Germans and Dutch, some Eastern European now too, and their offspring. Loads of them in Galway, Leitrim, West Cork and East Clare.

We wouldn't have a permaculture movement in this country if it wasn't for them. Many Irish I've met don't even know what permaculture means, including almost EVERYONE I've ever dealt with in social welfare offices and Intreo. "Oh, you mean Horticulture" 'ticks box'...eh no :rolleyes:

Wouldn't have a farmhouse cheese industry either and lots of animal welfare organisations and charities have been started and are run by them, as are various arts and craft industries. Go to any local farmers market (especially in West Cork) and you'll see how many have their own businesses there. Quite an entrepreneurial lot.

Of course you have some who live off the dole, smoke weed all day and live up mountains in hairy houses with no indoor plumbing, but they're a minority. Most earn their own money and contribute to society in my experience anyway.

I always find them well educated and informed (many have university degrees from their home countries) and they bring colour and diversity to this country. We need more unconventional thinkers, not less.

Personally I'd love to swap some of the mouth breathing locals I see around me for more of them. At least you can have an intelligent conversation with the hippies...

fryup

who remembers Swampy

Day Lewin

topper75 wrote: »

Obliged?
Yeah. The same obligation I have to live with scabies, mice, and cockroaches.

If you can invent a way to avoid living with mice, cockroaches and scabies, I'd say you are on to a very good patent and possibly a Nobel Prize.

Them things are endemic and always with us, the obligation comes with membership of the world.

Rows Grower

There's a good few dozen living within a few miles of our village in Kerry, for the most part they are harmless souls that mind their own business and some have very interesting stories. A lot of them are highly educated and from wealthy backgrounds, I admire them for the way they live life and how they raise their children with impeccable manners and open mindness.

Others would bore you to oblivion with conspiracy theories or try and turn every conversation in to a debate whereby they attempt to wow you with their expansive knowledge of totally useless facts, bit like boards really but more in your face and nostrils.

A lot of them are very hard, skillful workers who have over the years began to enjoy the fruits of their labour in a more conventional way like having electricity, hot water, owning cars etc. For some reason they all seem to know an awful lot about computers, but maybe that's just because my knowledge of them is so limited.

They are great people to throw a party and in fairness when they do everyone is invited, they do days and days of preparation for it with different hippies responsible for different aspects. Usually the parties draw hippies from far and wide and they go on for a few days but there has never been one ounce of trouble at any of them.

Except for two guys that I know, the rest of them are totally against hunting in any way shape or form. I don't mind that but I never shy away from a conversation about it or think twice about mentioning how it is my hobby and how much I enjoy it and in fairness they are broadminded enough to accept it's just what I like to do. I once had a problem with a locator box that was just out of warranty so I asked one of them would he have a look at it and try and fix it for me. It was very funny the way he reacted all serious, "Jesus Christ mannn, you know that is like the equivalent of asking Ghandi to make a nuclear bomb yeah?" He fixed it anyway fair play to him.

The worse ones I ever came across were over in Schull in a pub one night, they were playing various instruments and were for the most part absolutely brutal at both music and singing. No one was really bothered as most people were engaged in private conversations anyway and it was really only background noise. Near the end of the night one of them asked for silence and made a speech about how they all love Ireland so much and wanted everyone to listen to the next piece they were about to play/sing as a group. She then handed out sheets to the rest of the group and before starting informed us all how much this meant to all of them and how proud they were to be able to play it in public.

Then they started playing and singing "Molly Malone". In Irish. It took about 30 seconds of sheer disbelief for it to actually sink in what was happening. I started laughing and tried to remain inconspicuous but the more the wife elbowed me into the side to stop the more uncontrollable it became and to my eternal shame it spread around the bar. Every where I looked people were trying their best not to show they were laughing. No one could talk. At the end my wife was actually crying with silent laughter an she wasn't the only one either. They got a massive round of applause, cheering and whistling when it was finished but then your one who was kind of the spokesperson for the group made another speech and she was very angry with the audience who once again broke into fits of laughing, she stormed out the door in a huff and two minutes later came back for her coat and stormed out again.

We saw her in a cafe the next day, she bought a takeaway coffee paid with ten euro and said keep the change as she swanned off out the door. It was like being on an acid trip.