As this has bearing upon recent rants in these pages, I shall try to clarify:
When we went to Inisfree in 1990, it was - after at least fifty years of neglect due to population exodus - wild and beautiful. All right, getting about by soggy paths alone could be difficult in winter - but we overcame these difficulties by our own efforts. It was very satisfying.
Then came the drive from land owners and some residents (yes, we weren't alone - unfortunately) for roads. Huge amounts of EU money poured in and giant machines recreated the old roads. There were meetings with political figures flown in to canvas us on 'what we wanted for the island':
Now, I could either be dog in the manger and revolt against all this and go against the wishes of all our neighbours and the land owners which included our own landlord, or I could 'be like water' and let matters take their course.
I chose the latter and I have to say in the matter of roads and great machines, we largely benefited:
Here, William McDaid, the digger-man, is constructing a breakwater for us at our Guillemot Landing and in the next picture retrieving the concrete anchor drums I had made and sunk at our Permanent Water Mooring (Pwm).
William kindly gave Stephen a tweak at the controls which cheered a dark, dank morning. I got to move a few boulders about
also, which was interesting.
Thus it is evident that, in true islander mode, we made use of everything and every opportunity to make our lives easier. To this end, in 1997 after Meri inherited money from her father, David Francis, we invested in Solar Voltaic Panels:
The equipment which included a Prowatt to convert DC current to AC, did not stay in the box but came inside where it was a
great deal drier. We finally had four tractor batteries which were constantly monitored for charge and which ultimately allowed
up to give up candles.
Candles may be romantic but they are horrendously expensive and force you to use an oil derivative. We even ran a TV which the young people had been craving.
I canvased the relevant Minister in the government about founding an Alternative Energy Centre similar to the one in Wales but was gleefully informed that we were getting electricity put in. There was universal insistence that cable should go underground to preserven the look of the island.
They did not comply with that desire - hence the poles. Even our landlord, a good friend, was deeply saddened with the look of the place and before he died came to agree with me.
I accused the ESB of vandalism but naturally, words in the wind.
Donal, our landlord, brought a tractor on to the island for our use - this is the only shot of me driving, Stephen had charge
of her - and the road finally allowed us to move off in good order after my fall. We aquired a car that helped us move in
on the mainland but being a total banger Stephen, who was unofficial owner after I bought the old Corolla, suggested taking
the Renault onto the island as had already happened with a number of the new holiday-making breed of resident:
Photographed from the deck of the ferry we hired to bring the car to Inishfree.
Stephen driving off the ferry on to one of the first examples of island renovations - the
new slip, at this time (2003) some seven years old.
Thw 'Wrenault' at Wren Cottage.
I find this rather an emotional picture as is the one below:
As a footnote I should say something of why we left. Some may be wondering, as we are a family with five children - all grown now - why we did not stay on the island. They all left which is why the islands were abandoned in the first place. Meri and I spent our twelfth winter alone - and coped despite the onset of the worst weather since we had been there - a trend that has continued. Stephen returned in the February of '02 due to ill health which soon cleared thanks to proper eating.
Please note: the weather has worsened !
Here, William McDaid, the digger-man, is constructing a breakwater for us at our Guillemot Landing and in the next picture retrieving the concrete anchor drums I had made and sunk at our Permanent Water Mooring (Pwm).
William kindly gave Stephen a tweak at the controls which cheered a dark, dank morning. I got to move a few boulders about
also, which was interesting.Thus it is evident that, in true islander mode, we made use of everything and every opportunity to make our lives easier. To this end, in 1997 after Meri inherited money from her father, David Francis, we invested in Solar Voltaic Panels:
The equipment which included a Prowatt to convert DC current to AC, did not stay in the box but came inside where it was a
great deal drier. We finally had four tractor batteries which were constantly monitored for charge and which ultimately allowed
up to give up candles.Candles may be romantic but they are horrendously expensive and force you to use an oil derivative. We even ran a TV which the young people had been craving.
I canvased the relevant Minister in the government about founding an Alternative Energy Centre similar to the one in Wales but was gleefully informed that we were getting electricity put in. There was universal insistence that cable should go underground to preserven the look of the island.
They did not comply with that desire - hence the poles. Even our landlord, a good friend, was deeply saddened with the look of the place and before he died came to agree with me.
I accused the ESB of vandalism but naturally, words in the wind.
Donal, our landlord, brought a tractor on to the island for our use - this is the only shot of me driving, Stephen had charge
of her - and the road finally allowed us to move off in good order after my fall. We aquired a car that helped us move in
on the mainland but being a total banger Stephen, who was unofficial owner after I bought the old Corolla, suggested taking
the Renault onto the island as had already happened with a number of the new holiday-making breed of resident:
Photographed from the deck of the ferry we hired to bring the car to Inishfree.
Stephen driving off the ferry on to one of the first examples of island renovations - the
new slip, at this time (2003) some seven years old.
Thw 'Wrenault' at Wren Cottage.
I find this rather an emotional picture as is the one below:
We were living ashore by now and the boat was kept at the home of Donal's widow, Maureen.
We went on to do many trips to move our stuff off, we left in October 2002 but didn't finish until August 2003. Here in Stephen's picture, I am realising that it is virtually all over, the good times and the bad and it is an end to our great adventure into the Alternative Life of non-materialism, of environmentalism.
We went on to do many trips to move our stuff off, we left in October 2002 but didn't finish until August 2003. Here in Stephen's picture, I am realising that it is virtually all over, the good times and the bad and it is an end to our great adventure into the Alternative Life of non-materialism, of environmentalism.
Eventually I would find myself sitting at a computer keyboard and taking up the fight for a
Green Future... then I discovered the lie being perpetrated by Gore and his minions. My great love of science and the search
for truth that fired me a youngster came back and so you find me ranting against the CO2 scam.
I find it terrible that people will be financially penalised to fill the pockets of those behind the lie.
I find it terrble that children are being brainwashed in the classroom for this lie.
Humankind cannot control the climate, it is beyond our capabilities. For those who believe in Lovelock's Gaia Hypothesis I say 'have faith'.
Mother Earth will adjust Her climate how she will and Her youngest Child, the human parasite, will have to adapt as we always have.
I find it terrible that people will be financially penalised to fill the pockets of those behind the lie.
I find it terrble that children are being brainwashed in the classroom for this lie.
Humankind cannot control the climate, it is beyond our capabilities. For those who believe in Lovelock's Gaia Hypothesis I say 'have faith'.
Mother Earth will adjust Her climate how she will and Her youngest Child, the human parasite, will have to adapt as we always have.
Looking back from an upstairs window - Wren Cottage is on the extreme left above
the white cottage near the shore. The trees we planted obscure all but the chimneys.
There are seven poles visible. If I stood in the north window of Wren, I could count seventeen.
the white cottage near the shore. The trees we planted obscure all but the chimneys.
There are seven poles visible. If I stood in the north window of Wren, I could count seventeen.
As a footnote I should say something of why we left. Some may be wondering, as we are a family with five children - all grown now - why we did not stay on the island. They all left which is why the islands were abandoned in the first place. Meri and I spent our twelfth winter alone - and coped despite the onset of the worst weather since we had been there - a trend that has continued. Stephen returned in the February of '02 due to ill health which soon cleared thanks to proper eating.
Please note: the weather has worsened !