The "Screamers" on Innisfree

[Lao-Tse]

Sure you're not getting mixed up with the Bob Quinn film Budawanny which has a similar plot?

Isn't there a film called the "Secret of Roan Inish" which has a similar
plot as well?

[A Voice]

Remember the group of English feminists who set up a group
on Innisfree years ago? They were called "the Screamers" due to
the fact they practiced a therapy which involved reenacting traumatic
moments in their lives. Does anyone here have any memories of them?

I knew one of them. He was a friend of a friend. We were going to Belfast on a train and had to fill out a security(?) form at the border. He refused to fill in any box which referred to "UK" as didn't "believe in the concept". He was a nice bloke. Wouldn't let me mix wine and beer on a night out, either! Bad for me, apparently.

[rockyroad]

Ireland

I went once with a friend I didn't like it and didn't stay, but he spent ages there on and off.

[Truth.ie]

Was in Burtonport over the Summer. Changed so much since the 70s. Almost every bar has closed down except 1. The little gift shops/newsagents have also closed down.
Modern Ireland eh?
I'm guessing the Screamers were rebellious wimin from middle class, bourgeoius families.
Most of these cults are.
I was also under the impression the Irish guy killed in Columbia was killed by the AUC, which is a pro Govt force.

[Design for Life]

Did anyone see [COLOR="green"]TV3's slightly bizarre "Cults: How safe are your Children?" [/COLOR]progamme tonight? Strange time for a scary mary show abot cults.


RTE did a programme about these Screamers a few years ago but it's not archived on their site - RTÉ Television - Oileán -Atlantis .


Is there any more info about Mary Kelly? Was she a founding member ?

[tenderloins1]

Was there a crowd similar to The Screamers living on one of the islands in Clew Bay in the early 70s?
Being there at the time we were told about this strange crowd of 'Screamers' on an island in the bay. Maybe 'Screamer' was used to describe any weird group at the time.

[jman0war]

I read their book many years ago, enjoyed it at the time.
I remember they eventually left for Columbia, one of them was killed and the cork fella whom was "married" to the leader, left.
But some early posters have posted inaccurate stuff.
There were assault charges (they held the court in Irish by their request actually)
It involved this English fella that would on occasion visit, but he was a little violently crazy and would randomly attack people on the island. One time the cork fella (i forget his name) tried to get "though" to him and basically allowed the guy to do whatever violence he wanted on him. Well, that didn't last too long as the guy was certifiably insane.
They ended up binding the guy with ropes and dropped him off at the mainland.
Gards got involved shortly thereafter.
Nothing became of the charges iirc.
Also, in the book they say that the English fella returned home where he continued attacking strangers and eventually was locked into a home for the insane in a straightjacket.

[Lao-Tse]

Was there a crowd similar to The Screamers living on one of the islands in Clew Bay in the early 70s?
Being there at the time we were told about this strange crowd of 'Screamers' on an island in the bay. Maybe 'Screamer' was used to describe any weird group at the time.

There was apparently, a group of English hippies living in Ireland in the
early seventies,but I think they lived near Dublin. Maybe they're the group
you're thinking off?

[scratchnsniff]

There was apparently, a group of English hippies living in Ireland in the
early seventies,but I think they lived near Dublin. Maybe they're the group
you're thinking off?

Early Crusties, pre 80,s bus and dog on a string invasion. I know its a bit separate from the main topic but most of these Free thinking travelers seem to have become quite entrepreneurial and settled, mostly a good addition to the communities they settled in. Kerry certainly got its fair share

[grioghair]

Actually, there was a lot wrong with the Screamers. I was there in 1976 and I realised very quickly that it was a cult. There was a lot of intimidation and brainwashing techniques were used. Long confrontational groups, sometimes lasting days, where people were mentally and physically abused werre common. One was required to think in the 'right' way which was basically whatever Jenny James the cult leader thought was right. I was often reminded of Jonestown the infamous cult in America where everyone committed suicide. it is no surprise to me that they moved to South America where it was more difficult to escape. Mind you I learnt a lot about mind-control which has been very useful in my life since. I would like to get in touch with anyone who was there at the time.

I stayed there for a while in early 1979. I stayed at the house in Burtonport, and on Inishfree. What I learnt was that these people were basically practising psychotherapy without a license. I feel that to be a very dangerous practise. 30 years on, I don't know how I feel about these people - I really can't say whether their therapy had any validity, or whether it was just an exercise in self-indulgence. I don't know whether anything good came out of this project, but I personally witnessed a lot of negativity in that commune. I guess I would consider it a cult now, but it took me a long time to reach that conclusion. Yes, it definitely had all the traits of being a cult organisation. It is all part of my history now, but I think those encounters will remain with me forever.