Surrounded by 60 acres of lush greenery, Duffcarrig, in Gorey, Co Wexford, is the perfect place to let stress drift away. Secluded, calm and enviably peaceful, it's also the ideal backdrop to Ireland's oldest Camphill community, providing a sheltered environment for people with mental disabilities.

The organisation, which was established in Scotland in 1940 and now has sites in 23 countries, including more than a dozen in Ireland, was developed to create inclusive communities for those who found it hard to cope with the pace of the modern world.

Duffcarrig, the first of the Irish communities, was established in 1972; more than 80 people live there today. By creating a shared community, the group's organisers and those in their care build parallel lives, living as families, working together and giving mutual support. "The outside world is on its way to becoming equal and has made great leaps in the last 20 years, but some people don't manage to live with the hustle and bustle of society," says co-worker Dewi Williams, who has lived in Duffcarrig for 10 years. "Here, everybody is equal to everybody else. When people come here they have found themselves a home."

As a working community, the day begins at 9 a.m., each person assigned a task according to their ability. While some spend the day working with farm animals, others put their talents to use in pottery and weaving workshops.

Every year the community organises a cultural week, which this year involved the "slow-motion Olympics". People of all disabilities were encouraged to participate in the outdoor activities, while others made medals from seashells. Besides the enjoyment involved, the main purpose was to encourage everyone to view each other as equals. "The slow-motion Olympics was about everyone participating equally. It didn't matter what your disability was, you could still take part. We don't try and fit them for life, we try to fit life for them."