The Authors
The authors Tess Harper-Molloy and Dara Molloy live on Inis Mór, Aran Islands. They have raised four children Tuán, Macha, Surnaí and Anú. Together they work a small holding with gardens and animals. Their home is self-built and is energy efficient using clean energy. They also drive an electric car.
Tess and Dara have spent many years mentoring young people from all over the world in self-sufficiency, hosting volunteer programmes that lasted anytime from a week to a year. From 1991 to 2005 they also co-edited and published The AISLING Magazine. The magazine was printed using an offset printer they had purchased and was financed solely from subscriptions (no advertising).
Tess has a degree in theology from St Patrick’s College, Maynooth. Her writing and poetry has been published in various magazines, including The AISLING Magazine. Her poetry has been published in The Irish Times, Women’s Work VI, The Globalisation of God and Burning the Midnight Oil. Throughout her life she has had a passion for the work of C.G. Jung. This led her to achieve a Masters degree in 2008 where her work formed the basis for the book she has now published Jung At Heart: Tools for Psychological Hygiene.
Dara is a Celtic monk, druid and priest. He came to Inis Mór in 1985 to be a hermit, following in the footsteps of St Enda, patriarch of Irish monasticism. Inspired by the Celtic monastic tradition, he performs Celtic spiritual ceremonies for people including weddings, naming ceremonies, vow renewals and funerals. Unwilling to be a member of any institutional church or to create a monastic institution of his own, he encourages people to follow their own spiritual path and to draw on the Celtic tradition for their inspiration.