What will be the likely effects of Peak Oil and energy scarcity on a small off-shore island that has only recently gained some of the comforts and ease of living that a fossil -fuel economy provides? How can the practice of Yoga and Meditation help us reach the levels of awareness that will be required to meet the challenge of a low-energy future?
And what role did the potato play in allowing the population of Ireland to reach pre-famine levels?Right: Ciara, Theo and Graham amongst the trees 
These were some of the discussions I had with Ciara Cullen as her guest at the Clare Island Yoga Retreat Centre during a three-day Permaculture course that I taught there last weekend.
The course was a great opportunity to return to see trees that I had planted around the unique ancient woodland remnant on Ciara’s land 10 and 11 years ago, and it was great to see how well many of them had done considering the special and harsh coastal conditions on the island.
It is not only the trees that have grown- Ciara now has a new family since my last visit and runs a Yoga centre, gardens and farm with partner Christophe, and two children Theo and Maud.
Christophe has coppiced many of the alders which did particularly well, providing a sustainable source of fuel for the well-insulated timber-frame house where they run their courses.
Ash have also done well despite the frequent storms. The whole woodland is now under the Native Woodland Scheme, and last year another 2000 birch trees were planted around the existing woodland.
The ancient woodland is a remarkable and magical place, mainly birch and holly, some of it regenerating into the surrounding fields. There are four oak trees left-true survivors of the pre-famine times when the island’s population would have reached 1600 and pressure on all the available resources would have been considerable. (It is now down to 140.)
Below Left: the woodland on Clare Island looking across Clew bay towards Croagh Patrick; Right: 150 Year-old Oak
Each morning on the course began with a yoga class followed by a session on the Priciples of permaculture and practical activities: pitching of the new yurt that I had made in Derryduff and brought with me; mulching and establishment of an understory for a forets garden; and the completion of a cob bread and pizza oven outside the house.
The gardens are already impressive and the food supplied by our hosts and their volunteers of the highest quality. Ciara has been a follower of the Peak Oil issue for quite some time and keen to spread the word amongst the other islanders. The last night we showed two films- Four Corners Peak Oil and The Power of Community. Only two visitors actually attended but the response was mixed: while one was a definite convert, the other walked out during the Cuba film and refused to accept a word of the peak oil theory!
Many thanks to Ciara and Christophe for organising this event, and to the course participants and volunteers who helped make it so memorable. Hopefully it will be repeated in the future.
