For five decades, Camphill communities in Ireland have been places of belonging, meaningful work, friendship and shared lives. Now, a new book, “Lives Shared – The Community Years. Five decades of Camphill in Ireland”, brings together personal recollections, stories, photographs and poetry from people with longstanding connections to Camphill in Ireland.
The project has been a collaborative endeavour, involving contributors from across the Camphill community and supported through the dedication of the Publication Group (Thomas Horan – Chair, Anne Horan, Paul Bokslag, Noortje van Deursen, Gladys Lydon, Rosie Lynch and Brigid Pike).
The Camphill Foundation UK & Ireland is proud to have supported this important project with a grant of £2,000, contributing towards the professional services involved in producing the book.
Camphill in the Republic of Ireland celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022. From its beginnings at Duffcarrig near Gorey in County Wexford, Camphill grew over the following decades, with eighteen communities established across Ireland, from Monaghan to Dingle. At the heart of this story are the people who lived and worked in the communities, the families who became part of them, and the many others who supported and contributed to Camphill life.
Lives Shared brings together the experiences of more than sixty contributors, including community members with support needs, co-workers, family members, supporters and board members. Their memories offer a personal portrait of Camphill in Ireland – its everyday life, relationships, achievements, challenges and the many different experiences that shaped community life over the decades.
The Publication Group set out to preserve the experiences and memories of those who have been part of Camphill in Ireland, creating a lasting record for future generations. By bringing together these personal perspectives, Lives Shared provides an opportunity to look back on five decades of community life while considering how the values at its heart can continue to inform the future.
The book also reflects on the significant period of transition experienced by Camphill in Ireland between 2013 and 2022. These were years of change and reflection as Camphill continued to evolve within a changing social-care landscape, while considering how its distinctive values and approach to community could continue to shape its future. The Publication Group recognised that this period was an important part of Camphill’s story and sought to document it with objectivity, discretion and sensitivity, ensuring that the experiences of those years formed part of the wider history preserved in the book.
Published by Lilliput Press, Lives Shared will be launched on Sunday 1st November 2026 at Thomastown Community Centre in County Kilkenny and will be available to purchase here in the coming weeks.
Congratulations to all those involved in the creation of this wonderful publication!
The Camphill Foundation UK & Ireland provides grants and low-interest loans to support projects that strengthen Camphill communities across the UK, Ireland, and beyond, helping them thrive now and into the future. If your community has a project on the horizon and you need some support to kick start the development, we’d love to hear from you. Please click here to find out more.
Book launch Event
Lives Shared – The Community Years. Five decades of Camphill in Ireland
Sunday 1st November 2026, 2pm
Thomastown Community Centre
Marsh’s Street
Thomastown
Co. Kilkenny
R95 PX56
Interested parties should contact Thomas Horan via text or email
