Neil McDermott remembers catching sight of an ad in a national newspaper inviting people to ‘discover the mystery of life.’ Something in it piqued his interest, and off he went to Dublin every week from Edenderry, Co Offaly, where he was farming at the time, to study ancient Indian culture and spirituality at the School of Philosophy.
Years later a friend convinced him to go to Nilgiri Hills in India for a week.
“I fell in love with it,” he says of his initial visit more than 35 years ago. “It’s an amazing country. The whole spiritual end really struck me.
“I was into the philosophy, particularly the ancient Indian philosophy, so I had a head start, I suppose. I studied the language Sanskrit, which is the basis of all languages. I’m a devil if they say no previous knowledge is needed; I go for it,” he adds, laughing.
It was the start of an enduring love affair with India for Neil, whose experience has inspired him to develop Arunachala, which he describes as Ireland’s first “authentic” holistic rejuvenation and wellness centre in the heart of the Laois countryside.
Mind, body and spirit
On a sunny, autumnal day snaking up a narrow, stony lane to Deerpark, outside Mountrath, there is a serious wow factor when a typical rural vista opens up to reveal a spectacular house spanning over 1,850 sq m, perched high with expansive views of the Slieve Bloom mountains.
A sharp business acumen meant Neil is always on the lookout for opportunities and when he spotted the house up sale some years ago, he saw the potential in this unique gem designed by renowned architect Michael Rice. Full of high ceilings and architectural touches, wood and earthy tones, it is like stepping into an oasis of calm.
“It’s a very harmonious place,” Neil says, giving Irish Country Living a tour inside following a €4m investment. “It’s in harmony with the mountains, the forest, and the whole scene. It’s all wood; the only steel in it is the galvanised nails in the roof tiles. It has a peaceful vibration rather than an agitative one.”
Spread over 30ac with its own forest, Arunachala is named after a holy mountain in south India, and specialises in traditional Ayurvedic therapies, including retreats, yoga, massage therapies and wellness workshops. There are several therapists on-site and a resident doctor from India.
In Sanskrit, Ayurveda means ‘The Science of Life’, and it places great emphasis on prevention and encourages the maintenance of health by keeping balance in your mind and body through diet, meditation, therapies and lifestyle.
“I’m trying to create a place where people can come and be rejuvenated – mind and body,” Neil says. “I went to a place like here in India, and I couldn’t believe the effect it had on me,” the Meath native, who now does yoga and meditation regularly, recalls. “It was an intensive course to get rid of rubbish out of your body. It follows the ancient Ayurvedic principles,” he outlines.
“I felt a lot younger for a start afterwards. I knew I was too, from being able to go up a mountain [over there]. I felt happier in my own skin, which is another important aspect.”
Working on yourself
Working on yourself isn’t easy, he stresses, adding that when he initially heard the word ‘rejuvenation’, he thought it was rubbish. While we are getting older, he says with a glint in his eye, we can rejuvenate ourselves to a certain degree by “moving around the furniture”.
It’s a far cry from Neil’s childhood growing up on a mixed farm in Ratoath, Co Meath, before starting out on his own at 18 growing vegetables, primarily sprouts and carrots. When a farm came up for sale in Edenderry, Co Offaly, he bought the 227ac and a Georgian house at 25.
“It was a huge risk, but that said, it was a no-brainer, because the price of land was going to go up. Subsequently, I was offered a huge price for 60ac of it which would have left me free of debt.
“When I went in and told the bank manager, he said, ‘It’s buying land you should be doing, not selling it. So I did. I bought 30ac adjoining me. At that time, I borrowed the money at 21% and 6% of a surcharge,” he recalls leaving him with mounting debts.
He later did a deal with the bank to keep the crops and machinery and sell the place, so Neil rented a business premises in Tullamore and, out of necessity, started a machinery business which thrived for over 20 years.
A lively and affable conversationalist, Neil doesn’t like labels, and he certainly can’t be pigeonholed easily.
Speaking in a beautiful penthouse with mountain views, he talks about subjects as diverse as the benefits of yoga and oils for the joints and arthritis to the lack of appreciation of what farmers produce by consumers and his annoyance at the food waste when he remembers his father talking about “living on pigeons and rabbits during the war”.
Neil also owned the famous Beechpark House in Clonsilla for over 30 years, before selling it in 2025 to JP McManus and John Magnier. He co-owns a similar rejuvenation centre in India and travels there regularly.
A youthful and fresh 76, he has just returned from Estonia, where he was overseeing the harvest on his 4,000ac farm.
“Farming doesn’t leave you – it’s in the blood. We’re growing our own food for here,” he says, gesturing out towards the gardens outside where vegetables are growing, several of which he delights in telling Irish Country Living won prizes at the recent Clonaslee Agricultural Show. “I’m only back from Estonia too; I was harvesting the last of the spring wheat there up to yesterday.
“Land is highly valued in Ireland, but in eastern Europe it’s valued for what you’ll make out of it, which is more realistic. You know the play, The Field? Well, that’s Ireland, and I think it’s in all of us.”
Although Neil thinks he is rid of the land hunger, he does sympathise with young people who don’t have access to a farm and believes the taxation system should penalise anyone not using land.
Asked what he believes farming has taught him, Neil has a simple answer: “It just teaches you patience; you have to wait for the fine day. That’s it, and the best dryer is the sun.”
Having an interest outside his work also served him well, he agrees, saying that farming and business is a morning to night job, but without something else there is a danger of becoming parochial.
He encourages people to, “open up to something else, whatever your nature tells you. It could be restoring a tractor, or it could be going to the tops of the hills. That was my favourite when I was a young lad. I used to go off at the weekends even though there are no weekends in farming,” he says, laughing.
You can be within those fences so easily, and you are bound by those fences [referring to farming]. The key is, I’m not saying break down the fences, but jump over them
“It was a great way of taking myself out [of my own head] because I realised there is an ancient civilisation here in Ireland.”
“You can be within those fences so easily, and you are bound by those fences,”he says referring to farming. “The key is, I’m not saying break down the fences, but jump over them,” he smiles.
Looking towards India and a different way of living did that for him, and he hopes others benefit in similar ways.
“The most important thing is that visitors feel a lot better when they are leaving and have more enthusiasm for life,” Neil says, summing up his hopes for the centre.
Pointing to an area at the front where a statue depicting Fionn MacCumhaill will soon be put in place, he leaves us with a quote he attributes to the legendary figure to ponder on the way home. “The real music is the music of the moment. Just listen.”
See arunachala.ie
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