
11 Sep Ecovillage Site: Sale Agreed!
So it’s been 9 months since last blog update… a lot has happened in that time…
We are delighted to announce we are SALE AGREED on the Ecovillage site of our dreams <3 Woo Hoo!
It’s been such a slog these last five years working on this project. It’s the toughest challenge I have ever taken on. We have had a couple of false dawns on this but it seems at long last, the harvest of all our labour is coming to fruition.
The site is an incredible 65 acres of indigenous woodland and shrub, directly on the shore of the beautiful Lough Key, in North Roscommon, with 8 cottages and a larger farm-house (to serve as our community hub). There are also three other old cottages and a barn on the site whose footprint should enable further low-impact development (subject to planning).
We have decided to name this Ecovillage project: Dún Dúlra (Nature Fortress) and our project mission statement is “Creating a sanctuary to live lightly with nature and prosper together.” Live Lightly and Prosper! 🖖😀







We have got to this stage following a workshop using the incredible Dragon Dreaming project management system www.dragondreaming.org . I am lucky to have got to learn directly from the designer John Croft during a series of workshops over the last 3 GEN Europe Conferences. 90% of projects fail within the first 3 years.’Dragon Dreaming’ to date has almost 11,000 international projects all of which have had 100% success. We went from having the lowest ever funds pledged with myself on the edge of burn-out to being fully funded within 24 hours of our Dragon Dreaming workshop and being sale agreed within the week. I am working to become a qualified facilitator of this approach <3
We have also got to this stage thanks to the amazing CSR support of a local film company bigO who saw the potential in what we are doing and immediately offered to back us. bigO plan to use one of the cottages as a regional office, which will also help bring employment to the local area.
Further they have already began to film a documentary of the whole process. We needed heroic support and we have found it at last. “Where better to run a tourism digital agency than from in the centre of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands… we think by coming in early, and being an early investor, we will have a significant advantage and we would imagine that lots of other people would be really keen to invest after us.” (Vanessa Lawrenson, www.bigO.ie)
As well as bigO, we have other heroes who are helping us co-purchase this site, most of whom have been long term backers. We are also delighted to be able to offer an invitation for TWO OTHER FOUNDING INVESTOR SLOTS. As we currently have the capital to buy the site, but will require further funding support for Phase One Development i.e. renovating the pre-existing infrastructure.
We are having an ‘Open Day’ for prospective new investors on Saturday 28th September (as part of the European Week for Sustainable Communities). Already we have potential new ethical investors coming over for this day from Italy and Germany to view the site and meet with our core team, as well as investment interest more locally. Exciting stuff!
If you know anyone who may be passionate about this pioneering opportunity to be involved personally or professionally in the founding of this inspirational ecovillage, then please do share this blog post with them and or ask them to get in touch via EnrichedEarth@gmail.com
In other news we are also honoured to be 1 of 12 founding projects of GEN-WISE, a new bioregional alliance of the Global Ecovillage Network operating across Wales, Ireland, Scotland and England. Sitting beside leaders in the field such as Cloughjordan Ecovillage (Tipperary), Findhorn Ecovillage (Scotland) and Lammas Ecovillage (Wales). We had our first face-to-face meeting at the inspirational GEN Europe Conference in Tuscany during July.

We need Permaculture, Ecovillage and Transition Town solutions right across Ireland and this is happening organically at an ever increasing pace, with Roscommon and Longford for example both becoming Transition Towns. We encourage all Community Eco Projects in Ireland to avail of a current free membership offer of GEN-WISE as we work to share best practice and create a network of mutual support. www.GEN-WISE.org sign up via our new website currently being built.
In this time of Climate and Biodiversity Emergency (with Ireland being the second country in the world to declare this) and with our supporters Roscommon County Council also declaring a Climate and Biodiversity Emergency. Our Ecovillage project is very timely, as we have the solutions, based on international best practice through our partners GEN. We can help lead the way locally, nationally and internationally towards a regenerative culture that rises to meet face-on the challenges of our time.
We encourage all our supporters to begin to set up Ecovillage Projects in their local area, be it urban or rural, and our team at Enriched Earth and GEN can help via consultation and training as required at both individual, community, council and national levels.
We believe in Radical Hope. That the ecological crisis of our time is also an opportunity for humanity to evolve into a better way of living with each other and with respect for the natural world. In this, building regenerative communities is key.
Be part of the solution…
Onwards! <3
John-Paul Patton
Enriched Earth Founder
An Taisce Cimate Ambassador
GEN Trainer and Ambassador
Environmental Education Consultant
Sean O'Hara
Posted at 00:17h, 12 SeptemberCONGRATS !!! … I live nearby and have free time….like to lend a hand..!
John-Paul Patton
Posted at 05:32h, 12 SeptemberThanks Sean! Yes we need all the help we can get and be much appreciated! Let’s grab a coffee and a chat soon ✨😊✨ John-Paul
Sean O'Hara
Posted at 23:37h, 12 SeptemberSounds great John-Paul… you can get me at 086 1574143 I’m based in Longford about 35 mins from lough key…
John-Paul Patton
Posted at 23:52h, 12 SeptemberGo raibh mhaith agat ✨
Andrew
Posted at 09:28h, 12 SeptemberGreat News ENRICHED EARTH!
Sending all our support and collaboration offers from the Wicklow Mountains @ Derrybawn!
John-Paul Patton
Posted at 09:39h, 12 SeptemberSláinte no chara! Yea the big mission is to turn Ireland around from a lagging loser on climate and biodiversity action into an Eco Island. All aboard 😉
Tomas Browne
Posted at 18:38h, 12 SeptemberGreat news, onwards and upwards. I live 1 Km from site and I would love to help out.
John-Paul Patton
Posted at 18:59h, 12 SeptemberThanks Thomas we are very keen to have the place serve as a broader community asset for all who share our eco vision and values and your help and input will be much appreciated! Please do keep in touch ✨
Jan McEvoy
Posted at 09:15h, 13 SeptemberGreat stuff! Just down the road from me (I’m on 3+ acres of rewilding land in south Co. Sligo). Will watch your progress with great interest. xxx
John-Paul Patton
Posted at 11:09h, 13 SeptemberBrilliant Jan. We have already met a good few folks in local area who are doing some amazing eco and cultural conservation work and are wishing to join forces and be part of this project. The more the merrier! Given biodiversity crisis it’s great to hear of your rewilding project. Maybe I can come visit and we can chat? The site we are buying we wish to preserve in its current “wild state” as much as possible and will certainly have significant areas fully dedicated as permaculture zone 5 nature conservation.
SARAI HUMBLE
Posted at 00:28h, 25 SeptemberHi,
I’m walking through our ancient stories from Tory Island to loughcrew. I would love to come and hear and see your vision to share.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/suilancraic/?ref=share
Grá agus gaire
Rebecca Wynne
Posted at 20:29h, 13 SeptemberCongratulations! We have met a few of you as we live next door. Happy to help in any way we can. Such wonderful news for our area. All more than welcome for tea/coffee.
John-Paul Patton
Posted at 22:57h, 13 SeptemberThe support of you guys as immediate neighbors means so much to us. We really look forward to sharing what we are doing with you and with others in the wider local community who share our vision and values ✨
Rebecca Wynne
Posted at 20:45h, 15 SeptemberCall in when you’re next up if you like, it would be lovely to meet you. Wishing ye all the best for the next phase.
John-Paul Patton
Posted at 20:51h, 15 SeptemberThat’s very kind of you Rebecca and I will for sure ✨😊✨
Jan McEvoy
Posted at 08:03h, 14 SeptemberYou’d be very welcome to pop by anytime! My Eircode is F56 HR96. Or send me a friend request on Facebook and we can pm each other.
Morpheus Ravenna
Posted at 07:48h, 15 SeptemberCongratulations! This is so exciting. I am so happy for you. Sharing the news around here with friends. Many blessings for the next phase of the work!
John-Paul Patton
Posted at 10:45h, 15 SeptemberThanks Morpheus!
Anna D Atkinson
Posted at 18:45h, 15 SeptemberCongratulations on this project ! It’s an incredible site ! If I can do anything at all to help you out I’m more than happy to ! Looking forward to hearing your talk in Longford on the 22nd Sept as well 😚💚🌍🌱
John-Paul Patton
Posted at 20:48h, 15 SeptemberAnna, we are very open to team work and win/win/win collaboration with all who support our vision and values. So yes, please do feel free to help and be part of it in whatever way best matches your skill set and level of interest. Yea busy time for me at moment but am delighted to see Transition movement developing in Longford and Roscommon. See you soon ✨
Tomas Browne
Posted at 20:55h, 15 SeptemberHi Everyone,
Just to let the people in this group know that the Curlew Walking club are having an open weekend walking next Saturday 21st September and Sunday 22nd September. All are welcome to join us for one or both days. You can contact me directly on 087 2379632. I will be one of the guides each day. We are meeting on the Crescent, Boyle at 10.00 am each day.
Saraí Humble
Posted at 16:22h, 08 OctoberHi,
Not sure if your hearts of the event in Clare,
https://www.facebook.com/events/384438668901209/?ti=as
It would be great to connect in as many of us have had similar visions of restorative hubs that can rebalance the Ecosystem and our people.
My own project is about primary source water. https://www.facebook.com/groups/500008333827148/
If he more than happy to pop in sometime and massive we might get to meet you in Clare at the tree meet.
John-Paul Patton
Posted at 17:27h, 08 OctoberThanks Saraí,
Yes if you please email me via Enrichedearth@gmail.com we can arrange to meet. Enriched Earth is working to help facilitate Ecovillage projects across Ireland and building and networking between exisiting best practice is key.
Cheers
John-Paul
John-Paul Patton
Posted at 23:18h, 15 SeptemberThanks Thomas,
John-Paul Patton
Posted at 16:55h, 16 SeptemberWe got a lovely write up in main local Boyle media via Boyle Today website. So far the positive response, especially the welcome from people in the immediate and local area, has been wonderful and very much appreciated ✨
https://www.boyletoday.com/plans-progress-for-boyle-eco-village/
Tomas Browne
Posted at 13:43h, 17 SeptemberOpen weekend, please spread the word that all are welcome to join our walks this weekend Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd September. Both days we will meet on the Crescent in Boyle at 10am.
Saturday walk programme.
Level B.Balinafad to Balinafad Loop walk , route will follow the historical trail over the Bricklieve Mts, length 12km with 200m climb, time 3.5 to 4 hours.
Sunday walk programme.
Level B. Arigna Mining Experience to Clancys Pub Knockvicar , This route will follow a steady climb up the slopes of Kilronan Mountain, yielding a fine view of Lough Allen.The route takes us past the Mining Experience and continues towards the top of Kilronan Mountain, then sweeping downwards into Keadue.The route will then follow the historical trail past Lough Meelagh on to the Bogside Inn and then on to Crossna.From Crossna we follow the trail to Clancys pub.Time 3.5 to 4 hours.
For further information Contact Philip James 086 3353000 or Tom Browne 087 2379632
For reasons of safety and personal comfort, all members and guests walking with the club must have the following basic items of equipment: Strong waterproof boots, Waterproof clothing and a walking stick, Woollen hat and gloves, Adequate food and liquids, A whistle and a rucksack for all items.
Keith Magee
Posted at 14:42h, 16 OctoberWishing you the best John Paul and all at Dun Dulra. I love to see the messages here of support from people close to you and the encouragement from the Boyle community. Its inspirational to see this coming to life and gives all of those working to create a life that is in harmony and balance with nature motivation to continue on our respective paths.
There is a wee gang of us in Dublin, coming together to look at what it would be like to have an eco-village in and around Dublin. We would love to come down to you and get some inspiration. A few of our group know you and have been in touch so look forward to meeting you soon.
John-Paul Patton
Posted at 14:48h, 16 OctoberKeith, thanks for your kind comments. It would be my pleasure to help the Dublin Ecovillage project. Email me on Enrichedearth@gmail.com and happy to arrange a meeting.