Revolution In The Herd

Out standing in his field… Huw O’Toole TUES18JULY23

he past and the future are finding some very common ground over at Newtown’s Jacksmill.

On this 8-acre 1870s family farm, the old sawmill is now a remote working hub and arts centre whilst all around it there are allotments full of fresh vegetables, ripening fruit and wild gardens.

Oh, and an abandoned yacht, a salvaged boat from the Vikings set, a teepee (for yoga, of course), and two ever-present, ever-vigilant security donkeys, Dan and Bloom.

“We’re constantly evolving here,” says Huw O’Toole, “and I’m always thinking, would dad approve of this? Before he passed, we knew that traditional farming was just going to be too difficult to continue, but we still wanted these 8 acres to be useful. To grow things, to add to the community around us…”

And so, in 2019, along came remote work haven Hub 13, followed in 2021 by Jacksmill’s Forest Gardens, where ReWild Wicklow have helped plant 5,500 of a planned 12,000 trees. And now, the former grain store boasts shiny new studios and a gallery, with Hub 13’s first artist in residence, Canadian concert pianist-turned-sketch artist John Hess, baptising the Newtown hideaway with its first exhibition all this month.

“So, beyond growing all kinds of fruit, vegetables and flowers, we have businesses and artists bringing their ideas to Hub13, with web designers, environmental consultants and the likes of Street Feast and Nordic Ireland rubbing  shoulders with musicians and painters.”

Which all makes for one one large melting pot of happy and creative bedfellows – as the bould Huw explains…

You can find out more about Jacksmill Hub13’s remote working and studio spaces right about here, and about the Forest Garden allotments by emailing right here. Also, there’s yoga in the teepee every Wednesday at 6pm – booking essential here.