PRESS RELEASE
Part one of a mini-series on the secret life of Caitriona Fingleton in her 70th year.
Today’s piece outlines Follaine and gives us a glimpse of how it all came about.

As I leave a wonderful woodland to my left, I enter through the gate of the private residence, and my senses were overwhelmed by the colour and smells. There was obviously a lot of thought, love and hard work put into the development of this oasis. I am met by a very energetic yet calm 70-year-old Caitriona in one of the most peaceful settings I’ve ever been in.

There follows a slightly chaotic greeting from dogs, cats and free-range hens. Apparently, there is a pheasant or two peeping out at me from the flowerbed dedicated to giving them refuge. I also notice around the garden numerous bird feeders and baths. The holes at the base of some of the beds are deliberate for the wildlife to hibernate in. Bug hotels are used as borders for the beds.

Three different circles, linked in the Celtic knot, are surrounded by a mass of sensory plants. One circle faces east and it’s here that Caitriona meditates, practice’s her yoga and sometimes just lies on her back to watch the clouds or more favourably, the stars at night, all while listening to either the wind in the trees or the sound of the nearby sea.

The second circle is a mindfulness walk that, by the time you complete it, you have walked just shy of 1 km. The third circle has seats built into the bed walls and is used purely to sit and have the chats. This is overlooked by a huge mound, fashioned to look like a sleeping giant, and covered in 25 varieties of sedum and alpines.

All my bags and belongings are left at the patio door while I go on a guided tour. As I turn the corner, I realised what I had walked through was only the start. At the back of the house, I am blown away by the view across the mountains.

Caitriona pointed in through the kitchen window to show me her favourite place to sit inside, from where all this is visible. This garden is more functional. It has raised fruit and veg beds with seating for both dining and just relaxing around a campfire, either on the stump seats or in the swinging chairs.

Further down in the garden stands a poly-tunnel, the henhouse, and dog run for the poor puppies she fosters for CARA Rescue Dogs. This area also contains a lawn which appears to be a pitch, tree house, trampoline and what looks like an old ruin.

The ruin, or An Seanteach, was built by a local stone mason, in the style of the old cottages that would have once dotted this area. It is now used as a barbecue area and is in frequent use when family and friends gather to eat, drink and of course sing and play music.

Just to the side of “An Seanteach” is a pathway that leads down to the sea. This appears to be a well-worn track and Caitriona confirms that, irrelevant of the weather, she goes down every day and if the sea is in a good mood she will swim and if it is too rough, she just walks with her dogs.

We return to the patio where we set up shop for the interview. This area is covered with jasmine (the smell is divine) growing up around metal framework. The frame was manufactured by a local craftsman. Caitriona is very insistent that local is used as this is one of her ways to pay forward the good fortune that has come her way.

As we settle down there is an abundance of fresh baking available to eat as we drink our cuppa and chat. I am intrigued to find out more about what is basically a village that she has grown on her 1000-acre piece of paradise.

It all began in 2024 when Caitriona was introduced to a capital raising project which has become the source of funding for all her projects. Through the training offered, she did the Master Key Experience (MKE) course, and as part of that had to visualise her DMP (definitive major purpose) in life.

She was nervous at first but in the end, through guidance from her Guide and support from Tribe members, she let go and dreamed big. What we have today is a result of both her dreams and the dreams of like-minded people that joined her journey.

In the beginning, Caitriona only wanted to earn enough money to support herself and be in a position to volunteer more frequently. This dream grew as the course progressed and through her daily sits, she realised that, while volunteering with other groups, she could also set up her own foundation that would develop her ideas.

Each element of Follaine is different but a common thread is evident, as will be shown as we dive into the individual modules each week.

From the furthest corner of Follaine, which is a wildlife reserve, through more amenity-based woodlands, the care centre, to where we sit now, all 1000 acres have been put to use to serve plant, animal and human kingdoms.

Peace and harmony are the underlying themes and each area is in sympathy with the next. With the woodlands, care was taken to include bike trails, walking paths and areas where young people could meet and hang out in a safe environment.

Working with, and providing a safe space, for young people to grow and develop has always been one of Caitríona’s driving forces and this year she celebrates her 27th year as a volunteer with Foroige.

A quick bullet point of the amenities available in Follaine are:

• Wildlife reserve: Opposite to the entrance of her home, this is marked as private. Only caretakers and environmental students have free access.

• Native woodland: Here, the foundation has focused on growing native species with one area dedicated to developing a Hazel wood which once would have covered much of the landscape. The hazel wood also hides a fairy village that local school children regularly visit. Specific walking tracks are looped through but no bikes etc are permitted in this area.

• Recreation woods: With a mixture of planting, manmade environment and bodies of water, this is the biggest area of the woodlands. There are specific biking trails designed by the local off-trail biking club. Buggy/wheelchair friendly walking paths are laid down and used by residents of the village and locals alike. It is also featured on the Failte Ireland website. There is a semi private area with firepits where local teenagers and club members can safely hang out without causing any damage to the environment.

• The Hogeweyk Centre: A Dutch concept where people that are living with dementia can live in a deinstitutionalised environment using Naturopathic methods. This area is basically a mini village where all facilities and amenities are available for the residents and visiting families. All onsite medical professionals have access to treatment rooms that they can rent out for private consultations. The village is run in a holistic way using as many natural therapies and methods as possible. This grew from personal experience as both her parents lived with Alzheimer’s.

• The Woodlands School: Situated next to the Hogeweyk Centre so both age groups can interact. The school caters for preschool age right up to 12 yrs and also runs camps, in conjunction with the youth centre and Foroige, for young people up to 18 years. There is an outdoor schoolroom which can be booked for use by private groups.

• The Youth Centre: The youth services centre facilitates school aged children that may be having difficulties with their health, addiction, or in their living environment. It works alongside Government agencies and is the only aspect of Follaine that receives Government funding.

• Foroige club: Local children aged 10-18 meet here on a weekly basis and have a hall which is used for inter club events, delivering the Leadership Programme for clubs in the district and Connects Safely course for club members and local families. Each year, the club hosts a summer party for all clubs in their district.

• Seomraί Follaine Holistic centre: In a purpose-built courtyard, therapists can rent one of the many treatment rooms. There is a central intake system so clients can be directed to the treatment best suited to their needs and advice can be gained from fellow practitioners without breaking any confidences. One side of the courtyard is a large room which is used for group activities, retreats and wellness days. (This is also used to deliver courses to people reintegrating into society after disengagement through addiction, homelessness or abuse.) There are also counselling rooms available. The centre of the courtyard is laid out in gardens with seating areas and mindful walks. In the attached walled garden, there is a permaculture garden which runs horticulture courses and also has an area for outdoor group sessions.

• Towards the main entrance to the site, there is a community hall and outdoor area. Here local community groups can use the facilities for meetings and events. It is here that Caitriona also facilitates the MKE. The weekly presentation is delivered and members then get to spend time discussing and helping each other achieve their goals. There is also a course that has been modified for teenagers. This particular course was developed by Caitriona with the gracious blessings and help of the MKE staff. It has been adapted to teach in schools throughout the country.

• The Memory Woods: This is a very special area and possibly the reason this whole endeavour came to life. The Memory Woods are a living graveyard. Here, people can bring the cremated remains of loved ones to be buried under a tree. Each year there is a “Celebration of Life” where families and friends gather in a party atmosphere to remember the lives of those that have passed before them.

Caitriona dismisses her role in the development of all this and said not one single element of it could have been achieved without the support, help and sacrifice of family, friends and like-minded people. I have no doubt that before we even get to the end of this mini-series, Caitriona and Follaine will have a queue of people waiting to become part of this amazing community.