Fire at the Hollies

national | environment | news report Saturday November 06, 2004 17:47 by dp - Cultivate http://www.theholliesonline.com

On Monday 25th October, Ireland’s first contemporary cob house was destroyed in a fire. The house was being built by Rob and Emma at The Hollies Centre for Practical Sustainability. Arson is suspected, and Gardaí at Ballineen are conducting an investigation.

The Hollies was established near Enniskean in 1999, and since then, over 1,000 visitors have attended courses on various aspects of environmental building, gardening, conflict resolution, alternative energy and other environmental subjects. The Centre has achieved international recognition for its work in training and promotion of environmental building systems.

A major part of this ongoing work has been the construction of houses for the two families who founded the centre. These houses pioneer construction techniques that will provide comfortable living conditions for future generations when Kyoto obligations and dwindling oil supplies make oil-fired central heating a part of our history.

The destroyed house had many features including;

* Cob walls made from local clay and straw with no environmental impact in their construction.
* A curved roof matching contours of the local landscape with tiles made from recycled car tyres.
* Foundations of traditional stone with vermiculite for natural underfloor insulation
* Solar water heating panels mounted on the roof
* A masonry stove with improved combustion which re-burns smoke to reduce fumes while maximising heat from firewood used
* Windows carefully positioned to maximise heat from the sun
* Local timber used in roof beams, window frames and flooring – much of the timber was grown on the surrounding farmland.

After years of planning and exhausting work, Rob and Emma’s dream house was finally nearing completion and they and their four children were really looking forward to moving in soon. Building your own house is a huge undertaking by anyone’s standards, and the effect of the loss of such a labour of love must be devastating, particularly when arson is suspected.

Unusual building projects like this are virtually impossible to insure during the construction phase. All that remains of the house is the cob walls. The roof, windows, floors, stairs, solar water heating panels and all internal plaster have been totally destroyed, and as a result, both families living at the Hollies face financial ruin with their continued work at the centre under threat.

To demonstrate our concern at this difficult time, friends and supporters have set up a special bank account to receive financial donations. Proceeds will be given directly to The Hollies to be used as they see fit.

Contributions, however large or small are very welcome.
The account name is “Friends of the Hollies” at AIB, Bantry, sort code 93-60-14
The account number is 04780077.

We would also encourage people to send cards or notes to Rob, Emma, Thomas, Ulrike and their families at The Hollies, Castletown, Enniskeane, Co. Cork.

You can email them at ../mailto:thehollies@eircom.net

More information on the houses and The Hollies is available at http://www.theholliesonline.com

If you have any fund-raising ideas, please contact Clare or Quentin at 027-52773