Beyond The City: Dispelling Ecovillage Myths

By Ellen Salter
July 2020

In 1999, Cloughjordan Ecovillage, also known as ‘The Village’, emerged as a site of resistance to increasing environmental degradation and social fragmentation evident within contemporary, conventional communities. The Village, located in the heritage town of Cloughjordan, County Tipperary, (57 kilometres north-west of Limerick) is today home to fifty-five households across a sixty-seven acre site. The ecovillage contains 50-acres of land for allotments, farming and woodland; Ireland’s largest renewable energy and district heating system; over 20,000 newly planted trees; and more than 6% of Ireland’s A-rated buildings.

Once, before ‘The Fall’ (also known as the life we knew before the global pandemic), I visited The Village to undertake a study to examine the Sense of Community at Cloughjordan Ecovillage. But this article isn’t about that. Upon returning from The Village, I was met with many perceptions and questions of the community,and, in my opinion, common misconceptions surrounding ecovillage-living. So I’m here to expel five common myths:

Ecovillages Must Have A Shared Vision - The first myth to dispel is that motivations for ecovillage residence are not homogenous, and the strength of each fluctuates between residents. Cloughjordan Ecovillage was first envisioned in 1999 in the period of the Celtic Tiger – a time of prosperity and rapid economic growth in Ireland - as a local response to sustainable development. Member’s motivations derived from a plethora socio-psychological experiences; yet each motivation ultimately drew back to the individuals’ growing dissatisfaction with conventional lifestyles. The Village housed passionate environmentalists; retired citizens hoping to feel less isolated; and those wishing for a greater sense of community.
Ecovillages are Isolated - Cloughjordan Ecovillage is far from isolated. The Village benefits from close proximity and regular engagement with the Neighbouring Cloughjordan Village, located in proximity to a nearby train station. The Village houses an eco-hostel for visitors and actively encourages research, education, and community engagement. There were members of the community who worked elsewhere and some who even commuted between The Village and Dublin (approximately two hours away by train).

3. Ecovillages Cause Tensions with the Local Community - The Ecovillage residents reciprocally benefit from and support the neighbouring community - sending their children to the local schools, frequenting the local pub, and sharing produce from the community farm with the local village.

4. All Ecovillage Residents Are Hippies - As mentioned previously, not everyone chooses to ride in an ecovillage setting for a deep need to save the planet. In fact, at The Village, I met the Pink Ladies’ - three retired women who met at the village and built three pink houses side-by-side to alleviate feelings of loneliness and develop strong friendships. I was even referred to as “not another hippy” by a member of The Village for meditating in the labyrinth. The bigger question here is, who or what made the labyrinth if no one uses it? But that’s a theory for another time.

5. Ecovillages Often Stagnate in terms of Sustainability Progress - Whilst the overarching vision for The Village was first established in 1999, the aspirations have evolved over time in consultation with the residential population. Today, in line with recent policy changes and international best practice, ‘[they] are on a journey to a low carbon community’ to support decarbonisation and limit the devastating effects of climate change. As time and understanding evolves, The Village continues its sustainability journey to explore beyond the triple-bottom-line and deliver wider benefits such as designation as a National Dark Skies Park; a site for education and awareness; and a pilot community towards a low carbon transition.

You can find out more about The Village here.

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