Those who choose to join a cult or commune are seeking a sense of purpose and belonging. Importantly, members often state that they didn’t realise they were in a cult until they were in too deep to leave. But it was The Atlantis Primal Therapy Commune in Donegal, nicknamed The Screamers by locals, that fuelled my imagination. Jenny James, founder of group known as The Screamers, in 1981 at their residence on Inishfree, off the Donegal coast. In 1989, Jenny, her family and commune members arrived in Colombia.

Source: The Irish Times February 02, 2026 12:00 UTC