Leinster Express: 'The only one' - Meet the 75-year-old creating unique centre of rejuvenation in Laois
75-year-old Neill McDermott’s life changed when he went to India for rejuvenation; now he is creating Ireland’s biggest centre for it here in Laois
Neill McDermott is the man behind Arunachala near Mountrath
A former farmer has set up Ireland’s first “authentic and genuine” rejuvenation centre in Mountrath, Co. Laois.
75-year-old Neill McDermott from Meath started working on Arunachala about three years ago, but his passion for Ayurveda natural therapies started long before that. He first heard the word while in the School of Philosophy in Dublin when he was aged about 32.
He got curious and began researching it more, and ended up in India for a rejuvenation.
Upon returning to Ireland, Neill only lived life according to Ayurveda “20%,” and continued to smoke and drink.
A couple of years passed, and Neill found himself back in India for 40 days again.
That changed a lot. I stopped smoking, stopped drinking, and paid more attention to my food. The penny finally dropped that I need to get my own house in order,” he explained.
The centre specialises in traditional Ayurvedic therapies, including retreats, yoga, therapeutic massage and wellness workshops.
The age-old practise of Ayurvedic Panchakarma helps and promotes a healthy balance through a highly personalised programme of diet, meditation, and lifestyle adaptations, encouraging both physical and mental regeneration.
Neill explained ‘Ayus’ means life or change, and ‘Veda’ means knowledge of life or change.
Together they make ‘Ayurveda,’ which can be understood to mean ‘the knowledge that life is always changing.’
“We’re confident of the Ayurvedic system. It's a very ancient system of fundamental health and simplicity. That's the wonderful thing about it. You're grounded in simplicity and grounded in simple things,” Neill said.
Some people would think it's Indian. My background is as an agricultural labourer so when I heard that there was a language that is natural to us all, and no previous knowledge needed, I said, ‘That's for me,’” he added.
He is now using that knowledge to create the biggest and only rejuvenation centre in Ireland - Arunachala.
“Not only the biggest, but the only one. It will be the only authentic, genuine centre,” Neill said.
The centre is based in Deerpark, and was designed by Portlaoise man Michael Rice.
The building, which is extremely unique in design, was built according to the golden mean.
The golden mean is a mathematical equation regarding the relationship between one thing and another.
After being left idle for 11 years, Neill decided to pick up where Michael left off and create Arunachala.
“We followed, as far as possible, the principles of golden mean geometry architecture,” Neill explained.
The building was intentionally designed to maximise sunlight, with it pouring in windows as it rises.
“It shines in on the house all day long. Some people might not like that because it's so hot, but it's great to have the light,” Neill said.
There’s not a single straight line in the building, with curved doors, eye-shaped windows, egg-shaped rooms, and rounded wardrobes.
The kitchen was a void before Neill and his team arrived, and it is now a gorgeous open space featuring local timber designed by Ian James.
There are several treatment rooms, a kitchen and dining area, and a seating area with a hidden cave-style structure that has a stove inside.
Seven steps, each a colour representing the seven chakras, lead to the yoga room; a key feature of Arunachala.
A number of bedrooms, bathrooms, a viewing tower, a sound room, and an outdoor area complete the building.
The outdoor area features quite a spectacle, in the form of a coin pinned to the ground; something that seems simple, but is quite special.
“That coin is lined up with the sun. When it gets up over the mountain on the 21st of December, and it shines through three windows, it hits the coin,” Neill explained.
While down on your hunkers, you can look through those three windows and see the edge of part of the Slieve Bloom mountains.
The stunning scenery adds an element of serenity to Arunachala, while the specialists provide security that you are in safe hands.
Each treatment begins with a doctor consultation lasting about 45 minutes.
Dr Ramesh, an Ayurvedic specialist from India, conducts this consultation.
He then mixes the oils used in the Ayurvedic massage based on what your body and mind need.
Neill says his life has changed monumentally since fully delving into this lifestyle.
“I'm probably healthier than I was 20 years ago,” he said.
If you would like to partake in the Ayurvedic experience, you can do so by going online or phoning the centre.
If you do attend, Neill says to “expect nothing. Be relaxed and let the system work.”
To find out more, visit arunachala.ie.
By Jayde Maher; Published 31st Jul 2026