On the oldest side of town stands Saint Mary's Church of Ireland church built in 1821. It has played an important social role for nearly two centuries, with its three-bay nave, three-stage tower, a single-storey vestry to north and the incredible clock.

“Me and my grandmother were up at the very front for concert, and he asked me what song did I want him to play and I said, Black is the Colour. Then afterward, he gave me a plectrum and a signed ticket, and I still have that down below in the house”.

The days when Shinrone had a bustling high street with eleven shops are long gone. Today, only one remains. Despite this, the shop continues to serve as the centre of village life. Locals gather there daily while doing their grocery shopping, making it an important social hub. However, the village now faces the challenges of a declining population, which has contributed directly to the closure of many businesses over the years.

During one particular match, Sharon took a heavy blow that left her with a broken nose. Blood poured and Joe told her to come off. But she refused. “Just put the plaster on,” she insisted. She returned to the field and played until the final whistle before heading to the hospital. That moment reflects the mindset Joe instilled: resilience and refusal to give up.

"He used to come down and read the paper and do the pumps," Billy says. One day he walked outside, placed his hands on the railings around the petrol pumps, and died on the spot. There was no warning, no illness, just the sudden end of a daily routine that had defined a life.

On the farm, Sharon and her husband see themselves as caretakers rather than exploiters. They take only a third of what grows, leaving the rest for wildlife and for renewal. In an era when many farms are pushed to maximise output, they resist pressure to upscale. Instead, they work within the limits of the land and the season. If a patch is poor, they leave it alone.

Weaving, for her, is all about the wool. She works primarily with merino wool, which she sources from Donegal Yarns, drawn to its softness and tone. The threads themselves carry variation - flecks of colour spun together, giving the fabric a richness that changes with the light. ‘It’s flecked,’ she explains, ‘you don’t have flat colour.’

Caitríona Cullinane describes Shinrone as “such a welcoming place” and says she would not have spent a third of her life there if she had not been happy, praising local people as “special” in the way they invite others in and make them feel part of the community. That sense of welcome is mirrored in the school itself, which has embraced families from across Ireland and, increasingly, from around the world. Cullinane speaks of being “blessed” to now have pupils from Afghanistan, China, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, all enriching the cultural fabric of Shinrone National School.

According to the legend, a herdsman once grazed his cattle at the summit of the fairy hill, which disturbed and angered the fairies. The fairy queen tried to frighten the herder away by appearing in terrifying forms, such as a large horse with eagle wings and a dragon’s tail that spat fire or a small, lame man with the head of a bull.

By the time she returned to Shinrone, drawn back by both family and the man she would later marry, she already had started her successful textile business.

The conversation then turned to recalling healers local to the Shinrone area who had their own various methods to cure ailments like shingles, which was one which plagued a lot of people. Anne recalled a woman who used ashes from the fire and mixed them into holy water, and recited prayers to cure any ailments of people who visited her.

Bellefield holds that balance between memory and renewal, history and growth. Once a busy estate, then a quiet farm, now a living garden again, it continues to evolve under Paul’s care. Everything feels both old and new: the hum of history underfoot, the pulse of new life above it.

Today, Killian sees a club that continues to thrive despite its size. Shinrone fields teams across nearly every age group. Strong facilities and the support of local schools ensure that children are introduced to sport early and encouraged to take part, regardless of background.

Craftswomen Bernadette Stapleton and Rosalind Fanning came together in 2024, commissioned by the Shinrone Heritage group, to recreate the dress armed with the clear idea of the importance of the item to engage the community and connect to its past.

Tea, petrol, and cigarettes were all controlled by coupons, and families managed carefully the little they were allocated. His father worked as a greaser at a factory roughly six miles away, cycling the full distance there and back each day after a long shift. "There were hard times," says Dan. "There were no cars, and I barely remember the electricity coming."

Looking to the future, Sharon sees progress, particularly in the role and recognition of female players. “Female voices are being listened to more,” she says, pointing to changes that have already taken place.

When Carol mentioned to her elder son that she was coming in for the interview, the conversation at home turned entirely to Caitríona - how the two of them got on, how good she had been to him as a boy. "It kind of gave me goose pimples," Carol says, "because it was just, it was brilliant."

Instead of ending up discarded, the stained-glass window was taken, stored, and quietly cared for. For years, it stayed like that, safe, but largely unknown. An object without a story, waiting for one to be uncovered.

Lowell’s journey reflects both the challenges and rewards of starting anew. Through openness, participation and the support of a welcoming community, he and his family have found a sense of belonging far from home.

Community matters just as much as ecology. Rory and Jennifer hope to host courses, open days, and local permaculture gatherings in Shinrone, where neighbours have so far been encouraging about the tree planting. Rory wants to help build a culture of resilience, exchange, and practical care — one that connects older Irish farming traditions with modern permaculture language.

Bellefield House was bequeathed to the RHSI by Angela Jupe, who left the property and its 28 acres to the society in her will. Since then, the house has become a central hub for Irish gardening, hosting events, workshops, and guided tours of the gardens.

When the local pub faced closure, a local businessman stepped in to keep it open, provided someone could run it. Hilda took that chance. Two years on, she finds herself at the centre of a different kind of community space, one built on conversation instead of sport.

A tradition of assigned seating in St. Mary’s Church of Ireland, Shinrone began a love story for two of the now most involved members of the congregation.

Joe’s story begins with his parents’ move from Tipperary through the Land Commission to Shinrone. Growing up in a large household of eight children, life was busy and full.

In heritage projects it's important to “draw the solution out of the communities” because you give a sense of ownership, always give a sense of ownership. It’s important to look for the relevant resources within the community or very close to the community. The Heritage Group worked through setting up workshops to engage people of all generations.

For Trevor, Shinrone’s greatness lies in its people. “They’ll all pull together and they won’t see anyone stuck,” he says. That spirit shines brightest on days of celebration, like when Shinrone’s hurling team triumphed, sparking joy across generations.

A particular source of pride is the women’s team, which has existed consistently for over twenty years, which is a rare achievement in the area. Their success, including league titles and cup finals, stands as a testament to commitment. Even more remarkable is the legacy they’ve created, with former players now parents of international athletes.

Every Wednesday, a lively cohort of volunteers descends on the grounds tending beds, restoring pathways, and preparing for open garden events. Snowdrop Day draws crowds each spring, and plant fairs keep the garden’s community spirit thriving. These gatherings are as much about connection as horticulture: knowledge passed from hand to hand, traditions shared in muddy boots and warm conversations.

Marguertia’s mother brought her to Ernie Guest’s shop as a child for a digestive issue which plagued her. She has a vivid memory of Ernie retreating into his back room and returning minutes later with some fine black powder, which he mixed into a mysterious liquid for Marguertia to drink.

In Shinrone, the Centra shop is the heart and soul of the community. For manager Fiona McLeish and trainee manager Kaylee Mead, the shop is a daily meeting point where stories are exchanged and friendships are nurtured.

“Now we live in Shinrone, we settled already,” she says simply, suggesting a sense of stability that has followed an initially uncertain transition.