This October, I had the privilege of traveling to Ireland at the invitation of Kyrie Farm, where I visited their beautiful therapeutic farm and spoke at their inaugural conference, Recovery-Oriented Mental Health Services in Ireland: Introducing Kyrie Therapeutic Farm. Held at the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin and co-hosted by Maynooth University and Mental Health Ireland, the event brought together a diverse and inspiring group of mental health professionals, peer supporters, and individuals with lived experience to discuss the future of recovery-focused mental health services in Ireland and the therapeutic farm model.
As part of the visit, I got to tour Kyrie Farm firsthand and meet its dedicated board members, staff, and volunteers -- a deeply moving experience. Set on 57 acres of peaceful, tree-lined land about 50 minutes west of Dublin in County Kildare, Kyrie Farm is a sanctuary for healing and reflection. Founded by the McKeon family—whose commitment to creating a space for recovery is personal—their vision for Kyrie Farm is shaped by their own experiences with the mental health challenges of their son, Kieran, for whom the farm is named.
Kyrie Farm purchased the property three years ago and have since begun growing and selling weekly vegetable shares to area families, supported by a corps of over 70 volunteers and a garden manager. John McKeon, founder and director, has gathered a dedicated community focused on fostering a sense of caring, purpose, and hope. Kyrie Farm has assembled a talented project manager and architectural and engineering team to design a community center and guest residences, which they plan to build once funds are fully secured. They shared the lovely video rendering (embedded below) of the project at the conference.
This dedication resonates strongly with Gould Farm’s mission, and it was affirming to see the values of community, meaningful work, and the restorative power of nature reflected so clearly at Kyrie Farm and throughout the conference discussions and presentations. I felt honored to share Gould Farm’s history and century-long journey of supporting mental wellness, offering insights into how therapeutic farms like ours can empower people to find hope and healing.
The experience reminded me just how universal our mission is—to help individuals reach their fullest potential, regardless of where they are in the world. Kyrie Farm is now part of a small but growing network of therapeutic farm communities that offer a holistic and human-centered approach to mental wellness and recovery, and the conversations at this conference reinforced the importance of collaboration in our field.
With shared values and missions, Kyrie and Gould Farm have exciting opportunities for future collaboration, broadening the reach and impact of therapeutic farm communities. Together, we can continue supporting recovery paths that celebrate each person’s strengths and our collective global commitment to mental health.
Representing Gould Farm at Kyrie’s inaugural conference was a tremendous opportunity to join a global dialogue on mental health recovery, and I am deeply grateful to Kyrie Farm for their warm hospitality. As we look toward the future, I am excited to see our shared vision grow and to continue working alongside others toward a world where everyone has access to the mental health support they need to thrive.
Comments