New Age Hippies in Our Emerald Isle

The Crowman wrote: »

Being from West Cork I'm pretty familiar with them. You had a lot of what could be called old school hippies who came over from early 70's onwards. Bigger wave in the 80's/90's of what would be termed crusties or New Age Travellers. Most would be from fairly middle class backgrounds. Get on fine with most of them but there are a few who I find have a bit of a sniffy attitude towards "natives" thinking the're above them. I also find a lot of them are believers in conspiracy theories and crackpot alternative medicine, and some would be anti vaxers.

I was referring to the sniffy attitude ones earlier. I'd agree with them on some alternative medicine for example looking after your diet and your health rather than running to the doctor for an antibiotic when you get a sniffle. Alternative medicine got me up and going again when a top consultant told me I'd have to stay off work for a year.

A neighbour's nephew got very sick after a vaccination a few years ago and never fully recovered. I don't know enough to say whether there is a connection or not. She is convinced there was. I was lucky to grow up at a time when measles, mumps and chickenpox were considered rites of passage. Children get far more vaccinations now than we did in the 1970s but most seem to be fine.

fryup wrote: »

one local hippy was trying to convince me that the onset of 5G is the western world's way of population mind control :rolleyes:

Birds and bees don't like 5G. Whatever about population mind control, I wouldn't like a planet without birds or bees. Also some people claim trees are being cut down to facilitate the transmission of 5G signal. It would be a shame if too many trees were cut down.

Airyfairy12 wrote: »

I wonder has it anything to do with the cheap rent and art colleges close by in both Sligo and Galway.

It has everything to do with cheap rent. Not even cheap rent. A small rural bungalow can be picked up for <50k in Leitrim/Roscommon, and less in some cases.

Emme wrote: »

Good for you Greentopia. You made an alternative life for yourself but you were lucky you had the chance to do so.

Not everyone has choices. Some have family responsibilities from a young age and that can limit their choices. This is a concept some people cannot grasp. Responsibility can grind people down - all they can be concerned with is getting through what life keeps throwing at them. In the eyes of some they don't look beyond the surface of the commuting wage slave but the reality is that this "wage slave" may be reaponsible for running other peoples' show as well as theirs. Hence no time for exploring other career avenues or discovering themselves.

Incidentally I have read some of Noam Chomsky's books but not the one you recommended. Thank you for making some excellent recommendations to keep me occupied on my long commute

Ok, sorry if I came across as harsh, I know some people have responsibilities foisted upon them that can make life harder. I hope for the day when you have a bit more control and self determination over your life (if indeed that is your situation) and you will be free to explore other options and opportunities should you wish to do so.

And you're welcome The book I recommended was Bertrand Russells, but if you haven't read Prof. Chomsky's 'On Anarchism' book that's a good one too.

Yurt! wrote: »

A lot of the foodie culture that Cork is making hay from these days ("De capital of food biy, we're pure brilliant") came from these hippies doing their thing out in Ballydehob and Schull in West Cork.

In fairness to farmers they are trying to earn a living, support a family and most don't have the means to take risks with alternatives. Those who do are often wealthier than most other farmers around.

Emme wrote: »

Birds and bees don't like 5G. Whatever about population mind control, I wouldn't like a planet without birds or bees. Also some people claim trees are being cut down to facilitate the transmission of 5G signal. It would be a shame if too many trees were cut down.

i've heard that as well....BUT has it been scientifically proven yet?

topper75 wrote: »

Although chasing wealth beyond your needs is indeed a folly of the western culture, I don't have any faith in these alternative proposals. Where does the money come from to pay the police?
Much modern interest in anarchism was sparked by Johnny Rotten's lyrics but even he has come out to deride them saying "how can anarchists get around without roads?"

well said, its all very well spouting this hippy utopia ...but it won't tally in the real world

most of them are dreamers

Emme wrote: »

In fairness to farmers they are trying to earn a living, support a family and most don't have the means to take risks with alternatives. Those who do are often wealthier than most other farmers around.

I can understand that, however farmers have access to land which means they can diversify, and looking at prices for organic produce as opposed to conventionally farmed it's clear which is more profitable, even if it takes more work and man power if you wish to go big scale. Organic certification takes a year if you're organised and the land is clean, two at most.

I know several organic vegetable producers (I worked for a few and rented my own piece of land from one and sold organic produce I grew there to a local market and a few restaurants). There is a decent living to be made in it if you're prepared to put in the time and work.
Premium prices can also be expected from organic, chicken, beef and free range pig meat products at markets, SuperValu and to restaurants.
And most farmers could set aside one or two acres to diversify in this way. Get in some WOOFers to help with harvesting and packaging if needed.

Far less risky to invest in a growing sector like organic, keep your business small and customers local and sell direct to consumers and restaurants than intensive farming IMO, where many depend on farm payments to survive and prices for animals like sheep and beef cattle are so low and many farmers struggle to make a living from them anyway. And then you have factories and supermarkets squeezing the farmers too and been forced to accept the low profit margins that goes with dealing with them.

Organic producers and farmers work hard with very little state supports unlike conventional farmers who often get big subsidies and payments from the EU.

I started my business with very little and know many others who have done the same. All you need is the knowledge, a piece of land (that can be rented), hard work and good contacts.

Of course there are those with a lot of money who sell their homes in the UK or other countries and come here and are able to set up profitable businesses but they are by no means the majority. It takes time to build up a business like that in any case, especially with the lack of supports organic farmers take for granted in other EU countries.

I know many 'hippy' types who earn a decent living doing several things. One lovely lady I know has a few acres in Roscommon that she's turned into a food forest where she sells her garden excess produce, she has an honesty box selling her chickens eggs at the farm gate, she blogs and has a YouTube channel, she sells photos and calenders of her gorgeous permaculture small holding on Etsy and her website, she has written books on her experience over the 14 years she's been there and is largely self sufficient and paying off a mortgage.
She's had so many people visiting her to see how she lives she had to stop it as she had no time for anything else!

All it takes is imagination, a desire and openness to want to learn about more unconventional ways to live and earn a living and step outside what we are conditioned to believe is the right way to live, and a willingness to work hard to get it. It's not for everyone I agree and some have insurmountable barriers to breaking out of the rat race, but many more people could live like that if they really wanted.

topper75 wrote: »

Funny how these things are rife in places like Cornwall and Leitrim and never run down places like Threadneedle St. or the Imob

Because they look for places that have a great quality of life and are cheap and beautiful.
They see the potential for that in places like Leitrim that has relatively cheap houses and land for sale, whereas many Irish people especially if they have money would only see the downsides of somewhere like that and think it's too backward or too remote, or why would you want to live in Leitrim if you can live in Dublin and be near great shops, nightlife and so on. Once you go on the treadmill of wanting the lifestyle most Irish people want and having to work all hours to pay for extortionate rents and childcare, trying to save for a €300k mortgage, long commutes, stress, job insecurity etc, then another way of living seems unimaginable it seems.
Of course there are some who realise there is more to life that all that and move to the countryside to start their own little cottage industries (like me!) but most don't seem to even consider that, or think there are too many obstacles in their way to achieving it.

They come here for a simpler life away from built up cities, stress, commuting, keeping up with the Jones mentality and consumerism in modern life. They eschew all that in favour of a better quality of life surrounded by beautiful nature and clean air, water and food; and they want a place they can bring up children safely without all the dangers and distractions of modern living.

nthclare wrote: »

topper75 wrote: »

Co Clare/ South Galway especially around east Clare is peppered with these people.

Mostly old money, huge inheritance and they are never short of cash.

The best of motorcycles, heating systems, wooden northern European style barn's, German style interiors, huge stove's and comfort's.

I know one lady she's absolutely stunning looking lives in a wodden style log cabin, probably mid 50's very eloquent and ever so mannerly.
Has the best sounds system, TVs, rug's, quaint Georgian furniture, four-poster bed, underfloor heating, solar power and an oasis of a garden.
She does 15 hour's volunteer work a week, probably has 1000,000 + in the bank.
Drive's a 02 golf and has lot's of holidays, they're very practical.

I wouldn't judge them or look down on them, because if I could do what she's doing I'd live similarly.

They're quite content.

Yes, know a few too. One was my boss in an art gallery I worked. Old money, public (i.e. private) school educated in the UK, bought an old farm and lots of land in Wicklow in the 70s for half nothing and started a family there, an artist who does what he wants and has a very contented life. His house is old but beautiful-all old stone work, a micro-wind turbine, polytunnels for food, gallery and exhibition space for his work, lots of foreign holidays too.
And yes very practical too-drives an old banger and dresses in tweeds and Burberry he's had for 20 years and has the same mobile that's lasted him the last 5 years! No TV though I don't think.

Most old money like him are clever and don't put their money into rapidly depreciating flashy cars or other consumables and spend money only on quality of life items that will last or unique experiences and holidays. They invest their money well too and don't fritter it away on the latest gadgets and 'must have' consumables. They'll buy once what they need, and the best.

fryup wrote: »

.....no TV

We don't all need a weekly Tubridy fix you know

Mossy Bottom on youtube

"Cottage restoration, self-sufficiency and sustainable living on a smallholding in western Ireland!"


https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6vcadTSSQKVsdOudnbqwtg/videos