Ómós Digest #169: Ornamental Hermits.
Too early for a job advertisement? Written by Cúán Greene.
Dear Readers,
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Looking for work?
The time has come to seriously consider hiring for Ómós. Until now, those primarily looking for roles have been the chief tasters and gluttons amongst us; friends, family and gourmands eager to sample what has been fomenting behind the scenes. But recently I was thrown a curveball when asked if I would be hiring for the role of ornamental hermit. I always assumed Ómós would appeal to those looking to escape the cities, nature lovers, explorers and indeed those keen to better connect with the source of their food. This unexpected enquiry sent me down an unfamiliar rabbit hole. Had we room for this 18th-century occupation and a rather peculiar phenomenon?
Similar to our timid approach to social media, I have withheld from any serious focus on recruitment and hiring. I’ll tell you why. I’ve met too many working in hospitality who have experienced being offered senior roles by ambitious restaurateurs, only to be left in limbo. Multiple instances have resulted in these restaurants failing before the first pop of a cork or dressing of a plate. Natural disasters, shareholder disputes, naive owners, or an owner's self-imploded ego - whatever the cause - amount to years of preparation to abruptly cease. Life goes on, but those promised roles never get these precious years back. The comparison is akin to how the youth have been affected by Covid-19, held in suspension and isolation. Their best years, full of energy and growth lost. It's morally something I had never wanted on my conscience. But that’s passed us now. It won't be long until we are salting the hams, sowing the annuals and pulling back the curtains…
The role of ornamental hermits in history
It’s the ‘ornamental’ part of the occupation that fascinates me the most. While there have always been people who have lived off-grid, to expect one to serve for decorative or ornamental purposes is absurd if not immoral. During the 18th century however, across the British Isles, wealthy landowners of great estates built hermitages, follies and grottoes to house such real people. Aspiring hermits (who were exclusively men and often agricultural people) could advertise their availability of employment living in these fabricated dwellings amidst nature. They were instructed to dress in druid costumes, grow their hair long and not wash for years. It offered a certain level of mystique or ‘charm’ to the property, entertaining the most precious of 18th century emotions: melancholy.
As Gordon Campbell, author of The Hermit in the Garden: From Imperial Rome to Ornamental Gnome, cites from an advertisement referenced in Sir William Gell’s A Tour in the Lakes Made in 1797, “the hermit is never to leave the place, or hold conversation with anyone for seven years during which he is neither to wash himself or cleanse himself in any way whatever, but is to let his hair and nails both on hands and feet, grow as long as nature will permit them.”
It’s worth noting that 600 pounds in the 18th century in today’s money is in the region of about 90-150 thousand pounds. However, the duration of this agreement is unknown.
Did Laois have ornamental hermits?
Aware of the history of Laois, I began to wonder if ornamental hermits ever resided here or on these lands even. Co. Laois was the land of the gentry after all, a place of settlement for the British which made it most probable. While under the rule of Queen Mary, Laois became Queen’s Land, as it subsequently remained for over 350 years. The renaming was symbolic of England's assertion of control over Irish territories and coincided with the erection of great houses. Emo Court, Stradbally Hall, Roundwood House, Ballyfin Demesne, Durrow Castle, and our neighbours Abbeyleix House, of course, were important estates during this period. Despite eagerly searching and failing to find written accounts of ornamental hermits employed under these estates, it’s not to say that the practice did not exist at all. Although garden hermits were real people, they too (especially those who could not afford the real thing) were wholly imagined. There are many grottos and follies located on estates within the region, not least at Ballyfin and Heywood Gardens of the former Heywood House. What I did find was many accounts of hermits practising as monks, including that of Fintan of Clonenagh who is regarded as one of three patron saints of Laois, alongside Colman Mac ua Laoise and Mochua of Timahoe, whose name is survived by the Timahoe Tower where he resided.
Join the Ómós team
The image of a mysterious recluse living amidst nature might create fascination amongst our surroundings. For it to be possible though, I’d need to consider converting our vegetable washhouse into a hermitage, the sauna into a folly, or the pickle store into a grotto. Perhaps it is just as well that the garden hermit who evolved from the antiquarian druid, eventually declined into the garden gnome… So all this is to say that while we might not be hiring for ornamental hermits, we are hiring magical people with great personalities. There’s a broad range of roles available in the restaurant, guesthouse and gardens. While previous experience in the industry is advised, we are hiring primarily on personality and attitude. We hope to find kind people who care about farming, are passionate about the food system and hospitality, and care about co-workers, producers and people. There’s lots of potential to move around the business with exposure to regenerative farming practices, good wine, whole animal butchery and preservation. We hope to produce great bread from local grains, wonderful cups of coffee and seasonal beverages, all in an atmosphere where you and those served feel happy and at home. But, you will also need to love sweeping the floors, taking out the bins, organising, and stacking logs, all done to the sweet sweet voices of say, John Francis Flynn or Al Green.
So, if you have been on the fence or played with the idea of reaching out, and if you feel you have the personality and want to be a part of something exciting, challenging, and fulfilling, it’s never too early to apply. Expressions of interest are most welcome. Please email omos@omos.co.
Roles Available:
Restaurant: Kind chefs, passionate bakers, wine lovers, service lovers, and booking and communications jedis.
Garden: Real-life gardeners, rather than live-in hermits.
Guesthouse: Thoughtful managers, hospitable front of house, and charming housekeepers.
