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Workshops & Activities in The Bridge Community Work and meaningful activity is important for everybody here and gives life meaning and dignity. Everybody can make a contribution and has a part to play, whether in the houses or workshops, serving a customer in our coffeeshop, as part of the washing-up team or making breakfast for everybody in the house In that way we can all become aware that we are interdependant and support each other!
| Our Bakery and Coffeeshop Serving the public in a coffeeshop can be an interesting experience. No matter whether someone works as a waitress in the coffeeshop or at the till or in the bakery and catering kitchen which supplies all the food, everybody is part of a team that has to contribute towards "An Tearmann" - our famous coffee and bookshop. The bakery / catering kitchen is producing cakes, scones, lunches and other goodies for our coffeshop using mainly organic and homegrown ingredients. There are as many as 8 people working there in what is a spacious setting allowing people to receive training and develop their skills at their own pace. Our scones are famous and many people come from far away to taste them in our coffeeshop. And as far as a sense of being needed goes - it's hard to beat the satisfaction of serving a customer (with a smile of course ) |
The Garden Gardening is a very nurturing experience - to grow the food that we eat reconnects us to the earth and it's natural cycles. Our Garden has always been an important part of the Bridge Community's life.
All our Land is run on organic / biodynamic standards and we are registered with Demeter. We use crop rotations, mechanic weedcontrol and biodynamic preparations - most of our work in the main gardens is done by hand rather than by machines. We have 2 polytunnels to grow indoor crops and have a heated propagation greenhouse to germinate seeds. Our Garden has always been one of our most central work-areas and most of it's produce is eaten by everyone in our community whenever available. We also have a small appple orchard in Kilcullen |  |
 | The Farm Farming used to be a way of life here in Ireland but the Celtic Tiger has changed a lot of ruralcommunities.
Here in The Bridge Community we try to still farm in the old way. All these work areas connected to the land give valuable work experience , as well as providinggood food from the land for the community to consume. Working with animals can help build self-confidence and self esteem. The Farm team is committed and enthusiastic about this way of life. |
 | The Weaving Workshop Weaving is an ancient craft that has nearly disappeared since the industrial revolution,but holds great therapeutic value . Our weaving workshop produces scarves, rag-rugs, blankets and othersmall woven things, most of which are sold in our shop AnTearmann.There are currently 7 people working in the workshop in the afternoons which has a beautiful location and provides very fulfilling work for thepeople working there, giving the experience of natural materials, colour and texture in a very therapeutic setting. |
Domestic Work - Our "House Teams" Domestic work or house work is often neglected in todays fast-paced world and yet they are important. Our home and the food we eat help to uphold us and give us a steady support through life. All our houses are run as a team with a group of people some with special needs doing the cooking, cleaning, washing and baking. The house communities are everybody's home and need everybody's input. There is a particular emphasis on creating beauty and warmth, and many people who visit remark on this unique homely athmosphere
 | Home-life in The Bridge Community House communities form the heart and life of our community -this iswhere people createa home and can be with friends.
We currently have 3 housecommunities in the town ofKilcullen, 2 of which are located on ourmain site right in the centre and one in a nearby housing estate.
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