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Rob Hopkins on Permaculture and the Kinsale College May 21, 2008

Posted by Graham in : Kinsale, Permaculture, Transition Towns , 1 comment so far

To mark the end of an era and the retirement of John Thuillier as director of the Kinsale FEC, Zone5 has managed to secure this exclusive and enlightening interview with Rob Hopkins who founded the unique 2-year course in Practical Sustainability 7 years ago. Thanks also to Rob for sending on some photos from the early days of the course which I have placed though the interview along with some recent ones from the past year.

When did you first move to Ireland?

Rob loves his pizza

I moved in September 1996, from Bristol. I had just finished my degree and my second child was about 6 months old. From a house in the middle of Bristol to a mouse-overrun farmhouse up a lane near Skibbereen. I had lived in cold houses before, but this one was COLD. From the moment I arrived though, I absolutely loved it. (more…)

Graduation at Kinsale College May 19, 2008

Posted by Graham in : Kinsale , add a comment

End of another year and this time end of an era as John and Margaret Thuillier retire from Kinsale College. John has been a fine director of the college and is leaving a remarkable pedagogical legacy with a thriving Further Education College with many successful courses including of course the unique Practical Sustainability course.

John and margaret thuillier

John Thuillier

Left: John and Margaret at the Graduation ceremony; Right: John plays to the crowd

Congratulations to all the second year Permaculture students on all their hard work and contributions to the college, the permaculture course, Transition Towns Kinsale and many other projects. May you now be unleashed on an unsuspecting world and carry on your good work wherever you may be.

2nd year graduates

2nd year Permaculture Graduates Left to right from back: Shane Gannon, Klaus Harvey, Graham, David neavyn, Mikael Jedhamre, Will Flanagan; Susie Cornally, Jeannie Timony, Michelle Nixon; Front: Tara Kramer, Cathie Clinton, Virginia Stearns, Diane Rogers, Naomi Dowds, Tara O’Donoghue,Victoria McDonagh

Likewise the first year students pictured here with their Permaculture Design Certs, congratulations and many thanks for all your hard work and contributions both in the college and out, and look forward to seeing some of you next year.

Back row L to R: Luc Bouriel, Anja Pawelec, Kevin Dalton, Niamh Dempsey, Brian Brennan, Ed O’Leary, James barry, Tony Crotty, Seth Sutker, Rob O’Brien, Chris Michalowicz; Middle: Cormac McHugh, Susannah Murphy, Saskia Walter,Siobhan Cronin, Cathal Larkin, Ronan Philips, Deidre Duffy, Lea Miklody, Christine Disant, Paul Grimes; Front: Emily Shakespeare,Gabriella Perslow, Aileen O’Sullivan, Caroline Flavin, Maria Buitenhuis, Alan Morkan

A big thankyou is also due to Margaret and Kathleen for keeping the whole show going; all the other tutors and students who make up the community of the college and make it a truly convivial place to work;

Margaret and Kathleen

Saturday also saw the last night of this years play directed by Belinda Wild and performed by drama students, the riotous farce by Feydeau A Flea in Her Ear

A Flea in Her Ear

Coming soon: exclusive interview with Rob Hopkins on how the Practical Sustainability course got started