Can't use react-native-vector-icons

So I am trying to use react-native-vector-icons however I'm getting a myriad of issues.First, I install the package via npm

npm install react-native-vector-icons --save

However, linking is now deprecated, so when I try to link it and restart the project, the build fails and says I need to manually link it. So then I unlink the package and go and try to manually link it by adding the .ttf files to the project etc. etc. But then when I run the project, it still thinks i used react-native link even though I manually linked it, and again the build fails.

But then if I just don't link the package, when I import Ionicons:

  import  Ionicons from 'react-native-vector-icons/Ionicons';<Ionicons name="md-beer" type="ionicon" color="#887700" />

Then I get the infamous error "unrecognized font family Ionicons"

Am I missing something or doing it the wrong way? Any help would be greatly appreciated.