Oak & Oolite is a land-inspired blog exploring land, time, and community. It is about connection and belonging. The main themes are:
As an archaeologist, I’m drawn to finding out how our landscapes were used by people in the past. Here you’ll find posts on heritage, land, archaeology and history. County Kildare, my home county, will feature quite a bit as I feel it is underrepresented in the tourism world.
As an ambivert, I enjoy social interaction and feel energised by it, but I also need alone time to recharge and enjoy quiet activities like reading. I am trying to get away from screen time and want to encourage meaningful connection with people in reality, so I have set up three groups:
- The Coffee in Kildare connection + coffee group: a monthly meetup in a café in Co. Kildare, with the aim of creating community through place and flavour.
- The Oak & Oolite Walking Club: a monthly walk at different locations, starting in Co. Kildare, with the aim of connecting with nature, the land, and each other. Suitable for all fitness levels.
- The Oak & Oolite Book Club: each month we choose a book that reflects the themes and values at the heart of Oak & Oolite. The book club will meet at the end of the month in a coffee shop in Co. Kildare. The focus will be on face-to-face chats, but everyone is warmly welcome to join and contribute online as well.
As a food lover, I’m beginning a journey to explore why we’ve become so disconnected from the earth and how we can reconnect – whether it’s through highlighting fresh local produce across Kildare or wild food foraging.
As a coeliac, the food culture I can truly embrace is coffee. Last summer, I trained as a barista and completely fell in love with all things coffee. On my travels to the county’s heritage sites, I’ve started visiting Kildare’s cafés and have decided to share these discoveries on Instagram: @coffeeinkildare
I hope this blog inspires curiosity, encourages connection, brings a little fun, and sparks your own journey with heritage, food, and the land around us. Everyone is welcome to come along and explore the connections, stories, and flavours that make our world feel rich and meaningful.
I hope you enjoy,
Mary 💚
