COLUMN: 'On Thursday last I boarded the train from a sunny Templemore Train Station'

There is a common misconception that rural life is somewhat simple.

However, on different days of last week I found myself on a butter fuelled bus adventure in Dublin and a workshop session in Cloughjordan Eco Village.

Both very different experiences and once again I found myself in awe of the intricate threads that compose the tapestry of rural Ireland.

On Thursday last I boarded the train from a sunny Templemore Train Station, I had the pleasure of attending a press event for Connacht Gold butter aboard the Dublin Vintage Tea Tour bus.

I’m fortunate that in my line of work I receive press invites to lots of fun events but I’m a time poor thirty-something. Butter events, though?

Count me in!

Inside a beautifully restored vintage double-decker, complete with retro-style furnishings, garlands of delicate pastel flowers and an ambiance that would be Bridgerton worthy, we were treated to an afternoon tea spread with a difference.

The aroma of freshly baked scones mingled with the laughter and excitement of fellow passengers. We clinked our tea cups and set off on a delightful journey through the streets of Dublin.

We were given a tutorial in the latest craze to sweep social media, the viral butter board trend (apparently we aren’t buttering sliced pans anymore) as the iconic landmarks of Dublin – Trinity College, Dublin Castle and the GPO all whizzed by the window.

Leaving the butter boards behind, let’s fast forward to Saturday, when I ventured off to the Cloughjordan Eco Village for a community climate coaches workshop.

It was a fitting place to hold such an event as the Eco Village serves as a model for sustainable community development, demonstrating how a neighbourhood can thrive while minimizing its impact on the environment.

In theory the concept is utopian but seeing it in work reality was a real eye opener. This sustainable haven, which is very human in its triumphs and flaws, leaves quite the impression of what life could be like.

I admired that preachy perfection isn’t the goal but to do the best they can within the limits of what it is to have a functioning community is.

They follow the principles of permaculture, renewable energy, and sustainable living.

Our first stop was the community building served as a hub for various activities, from workshops to cultural gatherings to a cafe space.

It’s clear that the eco village isn’t just about sustainable living – it’s also about building meaningful connections and creating a better sense of community.

With an amphitheatre and lots of natural spaces sensory spaces within the 67 acres of the village, I was reminded of an article I had read recently lamenting the lack of “third spaces” since the pandemic.

A third space is a place where people can gather that isn’t a home or workplace.

The park in Templemore would be a great example of a third space within a community and how absent they are in smaller rural villages.

Living on a farm myself, I have a soft spot for all things farm-related, and their community farm was a true gem.

Organic gardens, orchards bursting with that early summer bloom, and rows of vegetables greeted us.

The eco village focuses on sustainable food production.

It has allotments where residents can grow their own produce. There is also a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm that supplies fresh produce to the extended community in Cloughjordan, a point our guide was very keen on!

Two very different experiences, in some ways at odds with each other, but for me unearthed the intricate interplay between tradition and innovation, community and sustainability that makes up our community in rural Ireland.

Katie Gleeson is an online content creator who documents family life on a dairy farm in rural Tipperary via her Instagram account @katieinthecountry.