Registration for the entire retreat is $3150 per person, or $2975 per person when two people applying together. This represents a discount of $350 for two people applying together - and you don't have to be a couple! Friends & family members of any permutation are welcome to apply together and the discount will apply.
- Transport from Dublin airport or local train or bus station to accommodation, and on organized trips throughout the tour.
- All admission fees on organized trips to sites such as cultural centers, museums, etc.
- The use of all accommodation facilities including lounges, gardens, etc.
- A life-changing experience of spirit, imagination, and community.
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
The deposit is nonrefundable unless the retreat is cancelled or rescheduled (and of course if your application is not selected for the retreat for any reason we will refund your deposit); remaining installments are 50% refundable up to 120 days before the retreat begins; after that any refund will depend on someone else taking your place on the retreat, or you can request to join us on an Ireland retreat within twelve months, where your installments minus the deposit will be credited to the fee for that retreat.
APPLICATION PROCESS
- Submit this application with your deposit, and we'll review it and get our decision to you as soon as possible.
- Upon acceptance, we'll send you an invoice for your remaining installments on the time-frame outlined above. You can pay this via check or credit card; if paying by credit card a 3.5% processing fee is added by our credit card processor.
- Once we have confirmed your place on the retreat we will communicate further details so that you can begin planning your trip!
- The remaining balance will be due by the dates outlined above (different payment plans may be available to spread the cost over a longer period - please ask for more details).
- We'll look forward to your presence with us in northern Ireland in 2024!
Remember - if you register with a friend or family member we reduce the cost by a total of $350. When two people register together, you can join us for $5950 total ($2,975 per person). The deposit remains $550 per person, with each of the remaining two installments reduced to $1212.50 per person.
ALL THE DETAILS...
TransportationWe recommend flying into Dublin Airport. Retreat guests will be picked up at Dublin airport in one pick up on the day the retreat begins. Alternatively you can make your own way to a train or bus station near to the retreat accommodation, easily accessible from throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland - we will provide further information after your application has been approved. Please do not book flights until after you have read the information packet that will come with confirmation of your place on the retreat.
AccommodationWe have developed a wonderful relationship with our accommodation hosts over almost a decade of leading Ireland Retreats. The historic cottages and converted mill in Kilkeel are surrounded by the Mountains of Mourne. The nearby scenery is spectacular, and the environment of the cottages and mill is quiet and welcoming.
Our retreat accommodations are welcoming, comfortable, and full of charm. We consider safety and conveniences when choosing these locations along with providing inspiring space to gather together and ultimately create unique and unforgettable experiences.
Kilkeel is surrounded by the atmospheric Mountains of Mourne; this idyllic scenery is quiet and welcoming. We promise you won't want to leave! The converted mill historic mill and cottages are lovely retreat-style accommodations. The rooms are thoughtfully furnished for your comfort and needs. The various properties have kitchens for personal use and shared communal areas to come together in the evening.
All accommodations provide you with your own bed, fresh linens, towels, and a hairdryer. Please note that restored Irish cottages and the converted mill do not have en-suite bathrooms, although there is at least one bathroom in each cottage or unit; because of the unique layout of each part of the building, no two rooms are the same. For an additional fee, you can request to have a private room - see below.
Our accommodations are welcoming, comfortable and quirky, but please note that this retreat is more of an immersion experience than a luxury vacation. The emphasis is on a meaningful, comfortable, and safe experience in community, where we connect with each other and ourselves; the consistent feedback we receive is that people have an encouraging, often inspirational, and sometimes transformative experience. We love staying here, and hope you will too.
Single Rooms
Rooms are shared with one or (in rare circumstances) two other persons, but we are sometimes able to offer single rooms for a $500 supplement. Please let us know if you would like to request a single room; we aim to let you know if one is available by one month before the trip begins; we will only charge the $500 supplement if we can confirm a single room for you. Please note that older Irish cottages do not have en suite bathrooms.
Cancellation Policy
The deposit is nonrefundable unless the retreat is cancelled or rescheduled; remaining installments are 50% refundable up to 120 days before the retreat begins; after that any refund will depend on someone else taking your place on the retreat, or you can request to join us on an Ireland retreat within twelve months, where your installments minus the deposit will be credited to the fee for that retreat.
Trip Insurance
We strongly recommend you take out comprehensive travel insurance that includes insurance in the event of your having to cancel. We will do our best to create a welcoming and safe environment but of course we cannot take any responsibility for loss, damage, or injury on the trip.
Walking & Hiking
Some walking is an integral - although not intensive - part of our trip, and while our walks are not very strenuous, they can be challenging. If you have any questions contact us to discuss the walks before applying for the trip. It does not require extensive experience, but will be at least moderately demanding, though exponentially rewarding! Comfortable walking shoes, an open heart, and a willingness to have your stamina stretched (a bit!) are invited…
Meals
Breakfast is provided each day, with either lunch or dinner on most days as well. You will be responsible for either lunch or dinner each day (on some days during the trip we will provide both lunch and dinner, and one or two other days you will be responsible for both lunch and dinner, but it tends to balance out!). We will always ensure you are near good and inexpensive restaurants for these meals. Meals that we share as a group will be homemade buffet style or generous packed lunches, depending on the schedule on a particular day. We are often joined by marvelous cooks, and we invite everyone to share in the preparation of meals and cleanup as a fun and creative way of building community.
Arrival
We pick up our retreat guests from Dublin airport around 2pm on the day the retreat begins, and we recommend arriving the day before so you can be rested for the beginning of our time together, adjusting for the time difference, jet lag, etc. You are also welcome to make your own way to the retreat cottages for check in between 4-6pm on that day.
If flying to Dublin Airport and arriving on the day of the retreat beginning, please time your flight to arrive by 12.30pm on Friday, June 7th 2024. We are happy to advise on accommodation options and itineraries before or after the retreat. We will send specific details closer to the time. Please note that if you're arriving a day or two early, you'll not be able to stay in our accommodations––we recommend booking a hotel in Dublin or Belfast City Centre.
Currency & Money
Bring at least $30 per day for a meal, drinks, etc. ATMs are as widely available as in the US, and credit cards are accepted almost everywhere. The retreat takes place entirely in northern Ireland, which uses the UK Pound Sterling. Please note that the currency in the Republic of Ireland is the Euro - but UK sterling is accepted in Dublin airport.
Departure
We depart our accommodation on the morning of Friday, June 14th, when we will be about 90 minutes from Dublin airport, 20 minutes to Belfast City Airport, and 40 minutes to Belfast International Airport. We will provide one bus to Dublin airport included in your registration fee, and will gladly assist with other travel arrangements as necessary.
Recommended check in time for international flights is three hours ahead of departure. Please schedule your departing flight no earlier than 12:30pm if possible. We can accommodate earlier departures, but this will require a taxi at your own expense. We will need to depart our accommodation by 11am.
Passport & Visa
Each participant needs a valid passport, but no Visa is currently required for U.S. Citizens traveling to Ireland or the United Kingdom.
A FINAL NOTE FROM OUR HOSTS...
This experience is very different from what might be typically understood as a traditional retreat. While there will be space for quiet reflection, we will be engaged in conversation and meeting folks whose stories sometimes make challenging listening. We take seriously the pain and struggle of the northern Irish story, but also the hopeful endeavors toward a more peaceful society. We also aim to create a warm and inclusive environment, and and we welcome and seek to celebrate adults of all ages, genders, races, sexual orientations, gender identities, abilities, and educational backgrounds, rejecting discrimination based on any historically marginalized category.
Painful histories mingle with the surprise of new things, exquisite natural surroundings, food and drink and sounds that nourish the soul. There may be tears, but there will certainly also be laughter. There may be struggle, but also inspiration. It is one of the privileges and delights of our life to welcome you to Gareth's home, and to share in this gathering. We invite you to allow the stories, people, and landscape to speak to you about how your own life might become more peaceful, and help others on that same journey. We look forward to meeting you! - Gareth Higgins & Brian Ammons
