WholeFam Ireland: The Kilfinnane Sanctuary

Restoring the old ways—quietly, practically, together

In the small market town of Kilfinnane, County Limerick, stands a remarkable survivor of Ireland’s matriarchal heart: a 1909 girls’ school built in the traditional limestone of Munster. Its strong walls once sheltered generations of young Irish women learning their first letters. Now, after decades of disuse, it waits patiently to become a sanctuary once again.

WholeFam intends to restore this detached U-plan schoolhouse—a four-bay, single-storey limestone structure with original cast-iron gates, red-brick detailing, and carved plaques reading “KILFINANE GIRLS’ NATIONAL SCHOOL 1909.” The building remains sound, its slate roof and stonework intact, ready for renewal.

Why This Place

Ireland holds deep ancestral resonance for women around the world. It’s founding members carry her bloodlines, and this WholeFam sanctuary is dedicated in honor of the Eacho/Campbell lines who emigrated from Ireland during the great famine in hopes of sending wealth found abroad back to the homeland. A century later, we work to keep our promise.

The Kilfinnane property embodies exactly what WholeFam stands for:

  • A place built for girls, now restored by women.
  • A sanctuary of learning transformed into a sanctuary of being.
  • A living bridge reconnecting Irish descendants dispersed abroad back to their ancestral soil of care, craft, and quiet competence.

This site offers both architectural significance and spiritual resonance. It sits within walking distance of the old chapel and town green, with open access to Limerick’s growing network of heritage grants for community restoration.

Phases of Renewal

Phase 1 — Foundation (2025–2026)

Goal: Secure the property and make it safely habitable for the on-site anchor resident.

  • Establish a WholeFam Ireland Cooperative Trust to hold the deed collectively.
  • Complete due diligence, survey, and heritage approvals.
  • Stabilize structure: roof inspection, window restoration, plumbing, and heat source.
  • Prepare simple living quarters and kitchen to re-occupy the schoolhouse.
  • Submit applications to:
    • Heritage Council’s Community Heritage Grant Scheme
    • Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS)
    • Sustainable Communities Fund

Timeline: 6–9 months from fundraising commencement. Target: April 6, 2026

Phase 2 — Restoration & Circle Building (2026–2027)

Goal: Bring the building and grounds into full functional life while forming the sustaining circle.

  • Run Restoration Retreats—week- or month-long residencies combining physical restoration, skill sharing, and ancestral remembrance.
  • Repair and repurpose the school’s north and south gabled classrooms as women’s dormitories and workshops.
  • Refinish the central hall for gathering, craft, and teaching.
  • Landscape the grounds with food gardens and native trees.
  • Form the Anchor Circle—Currently identifying 6–12 long-term stewards who will rotate in semi-permament or full-time care of the property.

Phase 3 — Opening the Doors (2027 onward)

Goal: Welcome visiting women for renewal and learning.

  • Establish seasonal residency and visiting programs for women of Irish ancestry or shared values.
  • Offer short stays for rest, healing, and skills exchange.
  • Host the Peace Pole Dedication Ceremony marking the re-awakening of the school.
  • Develop partnerships with Irish heritage, ecology, and women’s organisations for continued vitality.

Participation Pathways

We welcome every woman who feels the call—whether to live, serve, contribute, or simply belong.

Founding Stewards

For women providing major financial or in-kind support to secure and restore the property.

  • Lifetime right of residence/return up to 90 days per year.
  • Seat on the Anchor Council guiding the property’s future.
  • Recognition on the stone dedication plaque.
  • Annual Founders’ Gathering at Kilfinnane.

Founding Circle

For modest donors willing to live and work during restoration.

  • Contribution of $/€100–$/€300 per month (or equivalent).
  • Participation in seasonal Restoration Retreats (room & board included).
  • Voice in program design and long-term governance.

Friends of Kilfinnane Sanctuary

For global supporters at $/€25/month (or $/€5/month sweat-equity level).

  • Quarterly progress reports on all WholeFam sanctuaries.
  • Eligibility for volunteer residencies once open.
  • Recognition as part of the founding generation of the matriarchal renewal.

Why It’s Viable

  • Heritage Eligibility: Listed structure under the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH)—qualifying for Ireland’s principal restoration grants.
  • Low Acquisition Cost: Rural Limerick properties remain comparatively affordable, with grants covering up to 50% of approved restoration works.
  • High Social Value: Aligns with national priorities for rural regeneration, community use of heritage assets, and female entrepreneurship.
  • Global Support Network: WholeFam’s international base of women investors, educators, and artisans provides immediate capacity for sustainable use and visitation.

The Invitation

If you have ever felt the ancestral tug toward your pre-colonial homeland, especially Ireland—or simply longed for a quiet, meaningful place to rest and rebuild—this is the moment to join.

Together we will restore the Kilfinnane Girls’ School, reopen its iron gates, and dedicate it once more to what it was always meant to be: a home for women learning the ways of life.