Memories of hippies and marijuana on Mayo island

by Auld Stock

IN the 1970s the poor old hippies were blamed for everything and were an easy target for Dáil deputies and other public representatives.

One county councillor in Kerry said they were the scum of the earth. A headline grabbing statement and, like similar cases, without foundation.

Deputy Hugh Byrne, Fine Gael, stood up in an agitated state in Dáil Éireann and loudly proclaimed that marijuana was being grown in Westport.

Deputy Byrne said when Ryan’s Daughter was filmed in Kerry drugs were grown and used on a large-scale basis.

And what about Westport and drug taking?

A group of hippies had moved in to Dorinish island and the gardaí in Westport said they were keeping a close eye on the island.

Sid Rawle, described as the ‘King of the Hippies’, was encouraged by John Lennon to set up a community on Dorinish island.

However, the storms of the west coast proved too much for Rawle and his friends and they left the island in 1972. Rawle died suddenly on August 31, 2010.

Rawle and his followers created quite a stir in Westport at the time, but as Councillor Tommy Giblin remarked, the hippies seemed harmless enough and the question of them being druggies appeared to be somewhat exaggerated.

A group of concerned people in Kilmeena held a public meeting to protest against the ‘invasion’ by the hippies on Dorinish.

Tempers ran high and one speaker said hippies were not welcome either on Dorinish island or the Westport region.

Perhaps the entire episode was a storm in a teacup.

Today peace and serenity reigns on Dorinish except for the squawking of seagulls and the occasional seal resting on the seashore.

And not a hippie in sight!