Ceiliuradh '04 - Celebrating the Environment. A conference in Tipperary, March 21st - 23rd, 2004

I was invited at an early stage to the conference after hanging out my tile in an email to them. Apart from thinking it might  be interesting to talk on organics in my own home county and finally get to see the new campus of the Tipperary Rural and Business Development Institute in Thurles, I was not expecting a lot. I had more often than not been disappointed with conferences on organics (see Kerry Blues - IOFGA conference) and the environment, and my expectations were not high.
It didn't strike me until I got their fold-out brochure some weeks later that this was going to be a conference with a difference, more than simply "interesting". It wasn't just the design of the programme - which was very good (the spider web theme particularly) and appropriate to the theme - but the headline quotation, that set the scene for me; "Those who dwell, as scientists or laymen, among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life." Rachel Carson. Silent Spring always presses some of my buttons, for a start. The following, in-house copy, pressed the rest; "We all love our environment. We know and remember the places we have come from in ways we can hardly express. We are affected by memories of the places we have visited - the beauty of a landscape, the feel of the sea, the wonder of a waterfall. We depend on all the environment can bring us - food that is good and safe to eat, materials to shield us from the cold, water that sustains life, the variety of creatures that surround us.
It was almost not necessary to see the rest of the programme - trust had already been established. If you want the detail, you can get it still on their website  www.tippinst.ie
I'm not going to go through all the events, blow by blow - in any case I missed the first of them on Sunday. I later heard that the farmers' market on Sunday afternoon, held in the entrance space, had been "great fun and inspiring". Of the nine workshops held on Sunday I only managed to get feedback on a couple. Rob Hopkins (of www.walnutbooks.com and The Hollies - an alternative village, West Cork) on Natural Building - verdict: "brilliant!" Caroline Robinson, whom I've often mentioned on my website - an ex-teacher, she is now an energetic market gardener and trader - used her workshop, Food Markets, to launch the new organisation, The Irish Food Market Traders Association, "...to give strength, structure and negotiating power.." to traders. There was also a Willow Craft workshop given by Lynn Kirkham and Paul Finch of Greenmantle, and their sinuous, exacting work adorned several corners and walls throughout the venue. 
I did not get to the Institute until Monday morning. The airy, modern entrance atrium was abuzz with dozens of attendees registering for the conference. Staff and students were everywhere busy, helping with queries and directing the traffic. More importantly for me though, first thing in the morning, was the aroma of fresh coffee, tea and scones. I mainlined greedily on the excellent coffee and crunchy croissants and headed for my seat in the large, tiered lecture auditorium.
The official opening address by the Chief Exec. of the Instit., Padraig Culbert, had heart, directness - he gave the impression he was genuinely for sustainability - and refreshing brevity.
So Billy Holohan, Cork Co. Architect went straight into his talk - House Design in Rural Ireland. Billy, a seemigly bluff and  unassuming man, heads a team of seven architects in the council (some local authorities have none!) where he has played a huge part in lifting the quality of planning in Ireland's largest county. His presentation was well-practiced and illustration-rich which made it a joy to follow. His "before" and "after" photos of Clonakilty town were especially illuminating. It's said that his influence there has "created a legacy of good planning".
"Clustering" and "blending" were words he often used in relation to buildings in the rural landscape and he said it would not be a bad thing if we adopted the maxim of  "leaving the landscape as we found it". He is the author of a recent guide to best planning practice which is available from most bookshops. He fielded questions from the audience quite well, although I was not happy with his answer to mine. I asked "Why can't we have local stone and local wall-building styles following road widening?" I described the dry-stone walls that were often bulldozed away - by the council - and replaced with awful, craftless, Leggo-like structures of non-local stone and cement. Mr Holohan's excuse of it "all been down to resources" doesn't wash with me, I'm afraid. I believe it is much more attributable to a lack of leadership and imagination and a gross loss of respect for the craft of previous generations. Clare and Galway councils have done some great, sympathetic rebuilding of roadside walls and, I bet, at little if any extra cost.

Second installment of this article later